Within five minutes, Leon reached in front of the Helix Library. Its gates were closed, but a warm golden glow still seeped out through the semi-transparent windows.
Leon walked to the heavy wooden doors and rapped twice with his knuckles.
*Knock-Knock*
He waited patiently. Ten long seconds passed in silence.
Frowning slightly, Leon knocked again-harder this time.
*Knock-Knock*
"Wh-who's there?" A nervous female's voice called from within, quivering slightly.
"Rita... it's me. Leon," Leon replied in a loud voice.
There was a brief pause, then hurried footsteps approached. The door creaked open, revealing Rita standing in the entryway. She was wrapped in a thin red nightgown, her long hairs loose around her shoulders and her boobs looked bigger.
'Huh... I never realized they were that big. Must've been that book hiding them that she always hugs to her chest, Leon thought casually, his expression unreadable as he met her gaze again.
"Come in-quickly," Rita urged, grabbing his sleeve and pulling him inside before shutting the doors behind him.
"What are you doing here so late, Mr. Leon?" she asked, tilting her head with a faintly puzzled smile.
"I need to read some potion cooking books," Leon answered immediately.
"Why at this hour?" she asked, moving behind the counter as she adjusted her gown slightly.
"Monthly duels tomorrow. I've got a match", Leon explained. His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he asked casually, "If you don't mind me asking... why the nightgown? Do you sleep here?"
"I'm a librarian," Rita replied with a short laugh. "What do you expect? This is my home. I sleep here, eat here, and do everything else here. Hope you don't mind seeing me like this."
"Not at all," Leon said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Rita... I'm missing some of the books up here!"
A loud voice echoed from the third floor, breaking the quiet.
Leon glanced upward, spotting a student in a red uniform leaning over the railing.
"There are students here at this time?" Leon asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Told you-many of them are preparing for their final exams," Rita replied as she looked at him with a smile.
"Come on. The books you're after are on the third floor as well". Rita replied as she grabbed a pair of keys from behind the counter and started walking up the stairs.
Leon followed, his eyes drawn almost unconsciously to the sway of her hips and the flash of red panties barely visible beneath the nightgown's hem.
"I hope you're enjoying the view down there", Rita teased suddenly, glancing back with a playful, sultry smile.
'Well... isn't she one dirty librarian?" Leon thought with a crooked grin.
****
Outside the library,
"Hmm... I wonder when Master will come out," Dusk mused softly, his tail flicking as he sat waiting under the dim light.
****
"So... are you enjoying the view down there?" Rita asked, her voice teasing as she looked over her shoulder at Leon with a playful glint in her eyes.
Leon chuckled softly. "Well... I can't say no."
"It's a special service, just for you, Mr. Leon," she replied with a grin, continuing her slow ascent up the stairs, her nightgown swaying gently with each step.
'Is she flirting with me... or is she just a slut? ' Leon wondered silently, keeping his expression carefully neutral. 'Either way, I'm not that interested in her immature body.'
"The view's really good, though," he added aloud, a fake smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Haha...I heard the Alchemist's House has been at the bottom of Velthorne's rankings since... well, since forever." Rita spoke with a smile.
"Yeah, that's right," Leon replied flatly as they reached the third floor.
"Although they don't have much of fighting powers, they sure get rich after passing out from the University." Rita replied.
"They sure do." Leon replied with a smile as both of them reached on the third floor.
Rita turned toward him, gesturing toward the rows of towering shelves. "You'll find all the books on potion brewing in sections B-17, B-31, and C-03. But only up to rare rank potions."
"What about legendary potions?" Leon asked, tilting his head.
"Seventh floor. No access. Restricted." She gave him a small smile. "If you need anything, just call my name. But only for the next hour-I'll be asleep after that."
"Got it," Leon replied under his breath, already heading toward the shelves she'd pointed out.
'Alright... before I start reading, let's make a new skill', he thought as he activated his system.
[Please pick a name for the skill...]
"Focused Reading."
[Skill 'Focused Reading' has been created.]
[Rank has been set to 'F' by default.]
[State the use of the skill.]
"A passive skill that activates whenever the user reads something. Every passing minute while reading will consume 100 mana and grant one Learning Stack.
Each stack increases the user's reading speed and learning efficiency by 1%."
'It's a simple design with a normal task. The system shouldn't have any issues with it.' Leon thought in his mind.
[Processing...]
[Description accepted.]
[Estimated mana cost calculated: 50 mana to activate, 100 mana per stack.]
[Cooldown calculated: 45 seconds after each use.]
[Would you like to learn the skill or destroy it?]
'Good cooldown. Mana usage is manageable. This should help me a lot.'
"Learn it," Leon said quietly.
[Congratulations! You have successfully learned the skill (Focused Reading).]
Leon nodded in satisfaction. "Time to get started."
He moved quickly between the shelves, scanning titles until he found what he needed. One by one, he pulled twelve books from their places and stacked them neatly on the nearby reading table. Without wasting a second, he sat down and cracked open the first book.
[+1 Learning Stack]
[+1 Learning Stack]
[+1 Learning Stack]
...
As the minutes passed, the skill kicked in. One stack. Then another. Then another.
His mind sharpened. His speed increased. Words on the page seemed to burn straight into his memory.
...
[119 Learning Stacks]
...
2 Hours later,
*Flip*
Leon turned the page of the third book. With a single glance, the entire page embedded itself into his memory like a carved rune.
*Flip*
Another glance. Another complete absorption.
Page after page, the words blurred into his mind, and he could feel the knowledge settling into place faster than ever before.
'If I kept reading like this, I can read every single book in this library in about one month at most.' Leon thought with a smile.
On the northern side of the third floor, five students from the Phoenix Academy of Mages were seated around a long study table. Open books lay scattered across its surface as the group buried themselves in revision for the upcoming finals.
"Man... I'm seriously about to fall asleep," one of them muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Justin, can I take a quick nap? Just ten minutes?"
He turned to the one sitting at the head of the table-a tall, sharp-featured young man with red hair, sleek glasses, and a presence that practically screamed leadership.
Justin pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and gave the boy a cold stare. "Kel, you're sitting with the elite circle of Phoenix Academy's top-ranking mages. Do you think we got here by napping during study sessions?"
"N-No," Kel stammered, snapping his book back open.
"Good. Since your brain clearly needs stimulation, get up and bring me the volume on water magic from shelf B-32. That walk might keep you awake."
"Y-Yeah, okay." Kel rose and walked off quickly, muttering under his breath. "Man... I shouldn't have agreed to join this group. Sure, the benefits are nice but-"
He froze mid-thought. Just a few shelves ahead, sitting alone at a table under the dim light, was someone quietly flipping through a thick book.
Kel's eyes widened.
''No way... That guy-!"
Without another word, he spun around and bolted back to the group.
"Justin! Justin!"
"What now?" Justin asked, glancing up with a frown. "Where's the book?"
"It's not that! The guy-the one who fired that beam out of his finger that day!"
"What about him?" Justin asked with a curious expression.
"He's here. Right now. Reading just a few shelves away!"
Justin shot up from his seat, his face tightening with tension. The other three students followed, alarmed by Kel's urgency.
"Are you sure?" Justin asked.
"I saw him with my own eyes."
"Lead the way."
The group started moving, their steps echoing sharply across the quiet floor.
*Step. Step. Step. Step. Step.*
Leon's ears twitched.
'Hmm... footsteps. Two? No... three... no-five or six maybe. They're heading this way.'
Without raising his head, Leon whispered under his breath.
"Inventory, withdraw."
With a subtle motion, he pulled out Nyxter, his dark-bladed sword, unsheathed it silently, and slid it beneath the table by his leg.
"Threads. Threads. Threads. Threads. Threads."
Five invisible mana threads lashed out from his head. Each thread bound itself tightly to every single blade of the Nyxter and all the blades floated against the table's downside-ready to strike at command.
Seconds later, the group reached Leon's table.
Justin stepped forward and pulled out the chair directly across from Leon, sitting down without invitation. The others stood nearby, watching him.
*Flip. Flip*
Leon didn't look up. He continued turning the pages of the book calmly, his eyes scanning every word-but his mind was locked onto every single movement in front of him.
Justin leaned forward and spoke with a smug smile.
"Are you even reading that, or just looking at the pictures of herbs?"
*Thud*
Leon tossed the book to Justin and looked at him with a smile.
'I want to test it as well. Am I really reading them, or have I actually memorized them too?' Leon thought with a smile.
"What?" Justin asked with a confused expression as he looked at Leon.
"Ask me something from the book," Leon spoke with a smile.
"Well, fine..." Justin replied as he picked up the book and started flipping through the pages.
"What is the only ingredient that you need to crush-"
"-before adding it into the mixture of the acid potion? It's Kiloton Fruit's acid," Leon answered with a neutral expression.
"What the fuck!?" Justin whispered under his breath, his eyes wide as he flipped through the pages again, this time choosing a completely random one.
"How do you brew a size reduction-"
"Jutter Tree's fruit. You have to peel off the upper layer carefully so as not to damage the inner part, or it can get ruined pretty fast.
After peeling the outer layer carefully, pull out the fruit's inner core and slowly place it inside boiling water.
Once the water turns green, you just add a stable amount of pure mana to it, and your potion will be ready.
But jutter trees are rare to find and their fruits only grow once a year so making this potion is really hard but it goes for a really good price." Leon replied without a break, as if reciting the page word-for-word.
"T-That's right... B-But, how? You spoke it just as it's written in here. Word for word... But how?" Justin asked, genuinely shocked as he stared at Leon.
"You got the answer to your question. Now, I'll return to my reading. You probably wouldn't want to be seen sitting at the same table as a commoner," Leon said with a smile, flipping the page.
*Flip*
"I don't believe in that crap. I think the strongest should rule, no matter who it is, A Commoner or A Noble." Justin replied with a grin.
Leon looked at Justin with a neutral expression and silently activated his skill.
[Name: Justin Weaver]
[Class: Mage]
[Race: Human]
[HP: 500/500]
[MP: 400/400]
[Description: Justin is the fourth child of the Weaver House, a five-star noble household. He's a very capable student, but he wants to become the next successor of his family. Unfortunately, he can't seem to surpass his three older brothers, no matter how hard he tries.
That's why he looks for people with special talents who can work for him.]
'I can use him... If I help him become the leader of his family, I can gain a huge advantage inside the kingdom-open shops, furniture, bakeries, clothing, even a potion shop.
But first... I need to show him why he needs me.' Leon thought, his face unreadable.
"Well, it's good you don't believe in that." Leon smiled and returned to reading.
"I saw you that day... using that skill in the library. That hole is still there, you know?" Justin asked with a smirk.
Leon raised his head and looked at him seriously.
"Don't worry-"
"I think we should talk in private," Leon interrupted, his voice calm.
"A wise decision... You guys, go back to the table and continue studying," Justin said to the others.
"But, Justin-"
"I said... go." Justin's eyes narrowed, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Y-Yes, Sir." they muttered, immediately walking away.
****
"Let me introduce myself again-"
"I know you. Justin Weaver, fourth son of the Weaver House.
A five-star noble who wants to become the next successor of his family-but no matter how hard you try, you just can't seem to surpass your brothers, can you?
Now you look for special people who can work for you and get you to the top," Leon said with a calm smile.
"H-How do you know about the successor thing...? I-I haven't told anyone about that", Justin asked, visibly shaken, his ears turning red as he subtly reached into his pants, gripping his wand (Magical wand not his dick.)
"I can help you," Leon said simply, his eyes fixed on Justin.
"W-What?" Justin blinked, caught off guard.
"I can help you become the successor of your family," Leon repeated with a smile.
"And how can I believe you?" Justin asked, regaining some of his composure.
"Don't believe me. Just stand up, walk back to your table, and continue studying.
Forget everything about me and maybe in about 130 years, you'll become the seventh or eighth leader of your family," Leon said with a confident expression.
"You can't talk to me like that-"
"Why? Because you're a noble? I thought you didn't believe in that crap.
You might be a noble, but in your own family, you're seen as a failure. All you can do is pass tests with good marks.
And I don't think that's all it takes to lead a five-star noble house, is it, Justin?" Leon asked, still smiling.
'Fuck... Did I push it too far? Leon wondered, watching sweat form on Justin's forehead.
"How can a commoner like you help me?" Justin asked.
"Hmm... How can I help you? Wait, If I told you that, what good will I be?" Leon asked with a neutral expression.
"C-Can you really help me?" Justin asked in a shaky voice, wiping the sweat away.
'The cat is in the bag', Leon thought with a grin.
"I already told you... I can make you the head of your family. Hell, I could get your family promoted to a seven-star house," Leon said casually.
'Wait... Can families even get promoted?' he suddenly wondered.
"W-What do you want in exchange for this?" Justin asked warily.
"Seven favors..." Leon said, his voice calm but laced with evil.
"W-What?" Justin blinked.
"I will ask you for seven things. When I ask, you will do them-without hesitation and without question-after you become the leader of your family. Do you accept?" Leon asked, eyes locked on him.
"-H accept," Justin replied, swallowing hard as he wiped more sweat from his brow.
'I can really intimidate people, huh? Leon thought with a small, satisfied smirk.
"Now, Do you have a personal butler?" Leon asked with a smile.
"I-I do have a maid, but no butlers," Justin replied with a neutral expression.
"Good... I'm your butler starting tomorrow," Leon ordered with a smile.
"So, umm... how much do you want as your salary?" Justin asked, looking confused.
"I don't care about the money. Pay me whatever you want. Now, tell me about your brothers", Leon said, his tone flat.
"My oldest brother-the one next in line to become the head of the family-is Jamie Weaver.
He has two wives, a single son around three years old, and he's a graduate of Velthorne Academy.
He spends most of his time at the north-eastern border-"
"Wait... What house?" Leon asked calmly.
"What?" Justin blinked.
"I mean, what class is your brother?" Leon clarified.
"He's a Healer. One of the best you'll find in the entire kingdom," Justin replied.
"My second oldest brother's name is Jim Weaver," he continued.
"Quick question-why do all your names start with the letter 'J'?" Leon asked with genuine confusion.
"I-I don't know. My father chose them," Justin answered, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Why are you sweating so much?" Leon asked, raising an eyebrow.
"T-The information I'm giving you... it might not seem like a big deal to you, but to me, it's a huge risk. I'm leaking family secrets-that makes me a traitor."
'Family secrets? That's general information I think. But, in his sense of speaking... He is the traitor in a way' Leon thought.
Leon tilted his head, then shrugged. "Well, you had your chance to walk away. You still do. Go back to your table and I'll pretend this conversation never happened. But if you walk away now, I won't ever be interested in helping you again.
I only help people who want to help themselves. Not cowards who run like little girls the moment it's time to act. So, Feel free to leave anytime you want."
With that, Leon picked up his book and began reading again.
"I-I'm sorry... It just seems really risky. I mean, I'm telling all this to someone outside the family, and I don't even know how much power you actually hold-"
Suddenly, Leon raised his index finger and pointed down toward the table.
"W-Wha-?"
Justin glanced down and his face turned pale, as the words didn't come out of his mouth.
Two sharp blades were floating just a few centimeters from his stomach. One of them tilted slightly-aimed directly at his heart and the other one at his dick.
"I saw the wand handle sticking out of your pocket when you walked up to my table. And when you lifted your hand off the table, it slipped back into your pocket-most likely to get a grip on it.
You were planning to cast either an offensive or defensive spell-silently and without my knowledge.
That's why you maintained eye contact so intently... to avoid looking down but you couldn't notice my blades either", Leon explained.
"B-But-"
"I'd suggest you stay calm", Leon interrupted, his voice cold.
"Because before you can even finish the first word of a cast, one of these blades will pierce your heart...
and the other will slice your dick off, maybe you will live after the heart one but that dick-cutting will really make you... Oh well, you know what.
That's why you should always pre-cast defensive spells before engaging in conversation with someone you suspect might be 'Dangerous'", Leon said, making air quotes with his fingers.
"S-So... are you going to kill me?" Justin asked nervously, slowly pulling his hands out of his pockets and placing them on the table.
"No. You asked how much power I hold-this is your question's answer," Leon replied calmly.
"I-I get it now... P-Please, withdraw your blades. I don't want to become a man with no dick," Justin said seriously.
"I don't want to make you one, " Leon smirked, then retracted the floating blades and extended his hand.
"It'll be a pleasure working with you, Justin Weaver."
Justin hesitated, then reached out. The two shook hands.
"Now then, what's the status of your second oldest brother?" Leon asked with a smile..
"His class is swordsman, and he's 26 years old... He says that he is single, but secretly has a girlfriend. She's a knight in the Royal Army. He loves her more than anything, Her name is Amelia Ford. Anything else you want to know?" Justin replied, still a bit nervous.
"What about your third brother?" Leon asked, his face unreadable.
"Oh... he's not a problem. Just a drunk. Spends most of his time at the Windgrass Brothel. Spending our father's money on whores and stupid sluts."
"Well... that's an interesting character," Leon muttered. "You can go now. I'll gather the rest of the information myself. You don't stay in the academy dorms, right?"
"No. I travel from my house to the academy every day."
"One last question-why didn't you get into Velthorne Academy?" Leon asked, raising a brow.
"Because... they don't take students based on knowledge. They conduct aptitude tests... and I failed," Justin answered with a hint of shame.
"Inform your maid that I'll be in front of your house, day after tomorrow at 8 a.m. sharp. Tell her to teach me the routines and chores.
Don't talk to me in public, and don't give me orders in front of others unless necessary.
Also-starting tomorrow, you'll begin practicing real magic," Leon said, his voice sharp and commanding.
"Y-Yes... Umm, can I go now?" Justin asked hesitantly.
"Yes," Leon replied, already engrossed in his book once more.
'I have to make some buff skills in order to make him a good mage.
'But his family is rather interesting... a brother with two wives and a son, yet he spends most of his time stationed at the northeastern border. Suspicious.
And the second brother... deeply in love with a female knight. Now, I can only wonder what might happen if she gets posted at the same border as the first brother...
What if their meals are spiked with a potent aphrodisiac? Or better... what if the second brother and the first brother's wife end up in a sealed room inside the castle, and the air starts to fill with that same aphrodisiac ?
Heh... now that would be a sight worth seeing. A brother might forgive an assassination attempt... but never fucking his wife or girlfriend.
Once both of them starts to fight each other, they should get eliminated from the successor's list.
That's a wicked thought. But such games aren't easy to pull off... I'll need to get inside that house and see what's really going on. ' A devious smile crept onto Leon's face as more ideas began forming in his mind.
****
—Helix Library—
–3 Hours Later–
Leon sat in silence, his eyes scanning the final book laid out in front of him, titled 'Ancient Alchemy Records.
He flipped through the yellowed pages until something caught his attention:
****
[Moonrush Aphrodisiac Recipe]
Moonrush Aphrodisiac is one of the most powerful lust-inducing substances ever recorded. Even a single whiff of its fumes is said to drive a dragon mad with desire.
Legends speak of a deranged queen who crafted this potion in an attempt to enslave her king through Just.
When she used it on him, the king became a frenzied beast, killing over a hundred virgin girls in a single night while ravaging them.
Eventually, he was slain-by his own daughter.
To brew this forbidden potion, only three ingredients are required:
1. Moonflower - A mystical flower said to absorb the light of the moon itself. Known for heightening sensitivity and inducing a euphoric mood.
2. Redleaf Plant Extract A once-common plant famed for stoking the internal fire of arousal in target's body. Long believed to be extinct.
3. Succubus/Incubus Body Fluid - These demons of lust produce a unique sweat when aroused through their sweat. It exponentially enhances seductive power, but drastically lowers rational thought and intelligence in the target.
Brewing this potion is still considered mythical.
As no one has ever succeeded in creating it due to the extreme precision and total mana control required.
****
Leon leaned back, his eyes narrowed.
'Moonflowers... I've read about them. They bloom only at night in the Vinceral Forest, but they're incredibly hard to spot.
Redleaf Plants are... extinct. I saw that mentioned in the "Alchemy Ingredients" compendium.
And succubus sweat? Seriously? Where the fuck am I supposed to find a succubus?
They're high-level demonic monsters and according to books, they only appears in B-rank or higher dungeons-and even then, finding them there is not completely guaranteed.
I'm nowhere near strong enough to solo one of those and taking a party there is suicide.
There is only one place on this planet that has succubus demons and that is Demon kingdom itself but that kingdom is far, far away from any of the other kingdom and going there is also suicide.
First of all, you can't carry enough food and water to cover the journey, but even if I fully filled my inventory with food and water, the demons will make me their dinner as soon as they see me.
The Redleaf Plant... that's the real problem. Even if I somehow find a succubus and moonflower, the Redleaf Plant is extinct... Leon stared blankly at the page, his fingers tapping the table in a slow rhythm, lost in thought.
"Oh well... fuck it. I'll just make a normal aphrodisiac for now," Leon muttered as he stood from the table and began walking toward the other shelves.
'How many stacks do I have?' he thought, opening his Stacking Panel.
> [300-Learning Stacks]
'Well isn't that impressive'. Leon thought with a smile.
"Still some time before the market opens... and I'm not sleepy. Might as well keep reading."
With that, Leon wandered through the vast library, pulling out books at random-finishing each one in barely seven to ten minutes before moving to the next.
****
*Blink-Blink*
Leon's eyes opened. He was lying on the floor, a book in each hand.
"Hmm...? Morning already?" he mumbled, blinking against the light.
"Mr. Leon, looks like you pulled an all-nighter," came a familiar voice from behind.
He turned to see Rita, back in her formal librarian attire- and a book clutched against her chest as usual.
"Oh... Rita," Leon yawned.
*Yawwwnn*
"Good morning, Sir Leon," she said with a gentle smile, walking up to him and softly pressing a kiss to his lips.
*Chu*
She quickly pulled back, still smiling, as if nothing unusual had happened.
'What the fuck was that?' Leon blinked, his expression blank as his brain lagged for a moment.
"If you're staying longer, I can prepare breakfast," Rita offered sweetly.
"I'm good... but thanks for the offer. I have somewhere to be. " Leon spoke as he hurried down the stairs.
'What the hell kind of kiss was that? So lame. If you're gonna kiss me, at least use your damn tongue and insert it inside my mouth or let me at least suck on your lips.
These kids, don't even know how to properly kiss'. Leon thought with an annoyed expression.
"Whatever..." Leon shrugged the thought off and exited the library.
****
Back inside, Rita stood with flushed cheeks, squeezing the book tightly to her chest as something warm leaked between her thighs.
"Hah... I don't care if you love someone else... As long as I can have you, I'll even become your concubine, Mr. Leon.
I even have you my first kiss."
She whispered to herself, her face red with perverted thoughts.
****
Kingdom Market - Early Morning
Leon wandered through the bustling market, noticing most of the stalls were already open.
"Yaaawn... Fuck, I'm still tired. And I have way too much info swirling in my head. It's all getting jumbled up."
His eyes twitched.
"I need to fix this, or I'll go insane."
Without hesitation, he activated his skill:
> [Please pick a name for the skill...]
"Data Manager."
[Skill 'Data Manager' has been created.]
[Rank has been settled to 'F' by default.]
[State the use of the skill.]
"This skill can access the user's memory and store unnecessary knowledge into the subconscious mind.
When activated with a keyword, the skill flashes all related information back into the user's mind.
But it consumes a large amount of mana on every activation."
[Processing...]
'Well... It's just a basic memory storing and searching skill. It should be good enough for an F-rank skill but just in case, I have added the mana thing'. Leon thought in his mind.
[Description accepted.]
[Please select the chant for the skill (Data Manager).]
"Search." Leon smirked.
[Chant 'Search' has been selected.]
[Estimated mana cost: 250 mana/use.]
[Cooldown: 10 seconds.]
[Would you like to learn the skill or destroy it?]
"Learn."
[Congratulations! You have successfully learned the skill (Data Manager}.]
"Search..." Leon activated the skill immediately.
[Data Manager Activated]
[No memory Found!]
[Would you like to Dump Memory?]
"Yes"
[Please select time frame for memory dumping.]
"Last three hours."
[Dumping unnecessary information...]
Leon felt a wave of mental relief as the overflow of cluttered data faded from his conscious mind.
"Nice. I know I read about the monster 'Minotaur' earlier... but I can't recall anything about it."
"Let's test this."
"Search... Minotaur."
[-250 MP]
[+113796 MP]
[Searching...]
[Topic: Minotaur]
[Result: Found]
[Memory flashing initiated.]
Instantly, information about minotaurs surged back into his mind-everything from their biology to their attack patterns and dungeon habitats.
"Who said F-rank skills are stupid." Leon spoke with a smile.
****
Alchemist's Shop,
*Ting*
Leon stepped into the shop and immediately noticed the old man wiping down the counter.
"Oh... Kid, you're here again? And so early too. Is something urgent or are you a early bird?" the old man asked, giving him a curious smile.
"I need these ingredients as soon as possible. I'm already running late for the monthly duels, old man." Leon replied with a neutral expression, placing a folded piece of parchment on the counter.
"Monthly duels? But no academy is-wait... Which academy are you from again?" the old man asked, tilting his head.
"Velthorne Academy," Leon answered with a faint smile.
"Oh my... Another alchemist from Velthorne, huh? Very well then, I'll get your ingredients right away," the old man said, taking the list. But as his eyes scanned the contents written over the piece of paper, his brows slowly furrowed.
"This last item... Red leaf Plant extract... Kid, this plant has been extinct for years. You won't find it anywhere." The old man spoke with a obvious expression.
'Well... Let's see if this trick works. I used to do this with the dope dealers back on earth to get some.' Leon thought with a neutral expression.
"Nothing ever truly goes extinct, old man. You know what I mean," Leon replied with a knowing smirk.
"Hah... You kids and your curiosity.
Still, since you're from Velthorne and I've had good relations with alchemists from there, I'll let you in on something.
There's a hidden place called the 'Black Market'-a ruthless, underground exchange where illegal and extinct items are sold. Beasts, potions, plants... you name it. But it comes at a heavy price, and that's all I can say. I don't know where it is, and I never told you about it. Understood?" the old man asked with a serious expression as he looked at Leon.
"Told me about what?" Leon asked with a straight face pretending to not know anything about what he just heard.
"Good... That's how it should be. Now, remember you owe this old man one for the tip. I'll fetch your ingredients now." The old man spoke as he went back.
'I do owe you one, old man... And if the Red leaf Plant is in that Black Market, then I might just find succubus sweat there too and maybe the moonleaf as well!' Leon thought as he turned his eyes toward the rest of the shop, looking at old potions racked in shelfs and ingredients floating in some kind of liquid inside big jars.
Suddenly, Something caught his attention.
"Hmm...?" In the right corner of the shop stood a wooden dummy draped in a long brown coat, with a pair of gloves and black goggles hanging neatly beside it.
Leon immediately used his skill on instinct.
[Name: Gura's Alchemy Clothes]
[Rank: Rare]
[Description: Gura Grandom, one of the greatest alchemists in human history, crafted this alchemy set.
After his death, his possessions were stolen and sold across the world. This particular set includes a coat made from a rough yet durable fiber capable of resisting burns during potion-making. It contains hidden pockets that can store up to fifty potions inside them, accessible only while wearing the matching gloves. The gloves themselves increase the user's crafting speed and weight sensitivity.
The enchanted goggles are made with special glass and magical runes that reveal rare alchemy Ingredients otherwise hidden by magic or undetectable to the naked eye-but they only function when the full set is worn.]
'Holy shit... What the hell is an overpowered item like that doing in this run-down shop? Leon thought, holding back his excitement.
"Kid, I got everything you need," the old man called, stepping out with a large basket full of herbs and ingredients.
*Thud*
"I have double checked every item in this basket but you can-" Before the old man could've completed his sentence, Leon interrupted him.
"Hey, old man... that coat", Leon said, pointing toward the set.
"What about it? Just some old decoration I picked up at a sale. Tried it once-itches like hell," the old man replied casually.
'He really thinks it's just some itchy old coat... I'm seriously in luck today, ' Leon thought, keeping his poker face intact.
"How much for it? I'll buy it along with the ingredients," he said calmly.
"Hmm...? You actually want that ragged old thing? It looks terrible and it's uncomfortable to wear-what good can a decoration-"
"One silver for the coat, goggles, and gloves," Leon interrupted with a deadpan tone.
"Sold! That makes it six silver total. Want me to pack the suit for you, kid?" the old man asked with a wide smile, clearly pleased with the sweet deal.
"No need. I'll take it as it is," Leon replied, walking over to the dummy and removing the gear.
"Looks like you're planning to brew quite a few potions, huh?
These are some really expensive and odd herbs you have asked for. No one has used timber flower's extract in years. Since it can be replaced with some cheap burnsalt ash.
Should I replace it? Because this alone will cost you 50 coppers." the old man asked, glancing at the basket of supplies.
"Don't remove anything, old man. Here - I'm running late for the Academy. I'll see you later," Leon said, handing over six silver coins, grabbing the basket, and heading out.
"Kids these days are always in a rush. Still, I got a great deal out of that crappy old coat, Bought it for 30 coppers, sold it for a silver. That's today's profit secured-I might just close the shop early and rest,
Or... I can go to the windgrass brothel and have some fun time there hehehehe." the old man chuckled, counting his coins.
****
Leon exited the shop with a wide grin and immediately stashed the coat and ingredients into his inventory.
"Now I just need a wagon to get back to the academy," he muttered, scanning the street.
Just then, a wagon rolled into view from the far side of the kingdom, heading straight toward the academy's direction.
"Lady Luck really is shining on me today", Leon smiled, raising his hand.
*Screech*
"What do you need, kid?" the wagon driver asked with a puzzled look.
"Are you heading toward Velthorne Academy?" Leon asked, hopeful.
"I am, but I'll stop just before it. This is a transport wagon, not a passanger carrier. Are you a student at the academy?" the driver asked, eyeing him.
"Yeah, and I'm running late. Can you take me as far as you go?" Leon asked.
"Hop in. I'll take you all the way before heading to my actual stop," the driver said, motioning him in.
"Thanks," Leon replied, climbing aboard. The wagon was loaded with large wooden crates.
*Crack*
The driver snapped the reins, and the horses charged forward.
"My daughter goes to that academy too. She got in with help from the noble family I work for. I'm proud of her, once she gets out... Maybe we can have a good life." the driver said, smiling warmly.
"Good for you," Leon replied, pulling out the ingredients from his inventory and laying them out on the wagon floor.
'Pray that some Royal prick doesn't rape her and throw her body aside'. Leon thought for a split second before returning to his work.
"Instant Craft..." he whispered.
[Select Potion Type]
[Minor Glomar Aphrodisiac Potion]
[Minor Acid Potion]
[Minor Fire Potion]
****
A long list of options appeared in front of him.
"Make them all," Leon muttered, grinning.
****
*Screech*
The wagon came to a stop at the Velthorne Academy's gates.
"Alright, kid. We're here," the driver said with a smile.
"Thanks..." Leon jumped down, now fully dressed in Gura's Alchemy Set. The coat's long belts swayed behind him, the high collars partially blocked his peripheral vision from both sides, the gloves hung slightly loose on his hands and the goggles were resting over his head.
"Well, well... Look at you. When did you even change into that old thing?" the driver asked, chuckling.
"Thanks for the ride, sir. Here's a little-" Leon began, pulling out a few copper coins.
"I don't want money, kid. Remember I told you about my daughter?" the driver asked.
"Yeah. What about her?" Leon asked curiously.
"Her name is Debbie, she is a mage. Brown hair, black eyes... She's a sweet girl but gets scared easily. Look out for her, would you? At last we commoners will need to have each other's back," the driver said with a warm smile.
"I'll try. Thanks again," Leon nodded and headed toward the academy gates.
As soon as he entered inside the academy-
Every eye turned toward him.
"Hey look..."
"What the fuck?"
"What is that clown wearing?"
"Hahaha, is he mad?"
"What kind of idiot wears something like that?"
****
The crowd of students filled with tension of the duels, burst into mocking laughter as they pointed and snickered.
Leon walked forward, completely unfazed, his eyes focused straight ahead,
****
—Main Dueling Ground of Velthorne Academy—
The main Dueling ground of Velthorne Academy was built like a colossal stadium, with rows of seats spiraling upwards in circles around the enormous stage at the center.
The seating area was divided into seven sections-one for each of the seven houses.
All the students had taken their seats, chatting amongst themselves, while the teachers from each house lined up in front of their sections, selecting the students who would participate in today's competition.
*Swish*
Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind swept across the stage, and a man appeared in the center, seemingly out of nowhere.
He wore a pristine white suit adorned with golden lines and held a black, enchanted horn in his hand.
His skin was dark, and his long black hairs were tied back neatly.
He used a skill before speaking anything...
"Ladies and gentlemen... This is your all time favorite teacher, Tyron Lancioff from House Aurinox. And for the next ten days..." He paused with a confident grin.
"I'll be your host for this month's Monthly Dueis-where chosen students from each of the seven houses will battle it out for the top spot!
These monthly duels will be very very interesting students as the junior students can now also get paired up with senior students in a duel due to the removal of a small academic law that prohibited this scenario and I hope you all win but that's just not possible, hahaha."
Tyron's voice echoed throughout the stadium as he raised the horn to his lips.
"The reward for this month's duel is, as always, a mystery-one that will be revealed by the Headmaster himself at the end of the duels.
But..." He glanced down at the stage, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. "There's something else I'd like to point out today."
He gestured toward the seating sections.
"As you can see, each house has two teachers standing proudly in front of their section, flanked by their candidates. Every house has sent at least twenty participants to fight from their side.
But let's take a moment to appreciate House Virellis because..." Tyron paused dramatically. "They haven't participated in the monthly duels for the last three months. And now, suddenly, they've decided to return to the competition...
But, that's not the funny part, they came back and participated in the monthly duels...with just one student." Tyron spoke with a mocking smile.
The crowd buzzed in confusion.
"What?"
"I thought House Virellis stopped participating."
"He was a Non-Attending Student... I think that's why he was forced to participate."
"Well truly sad for him."
"That guy is going to get crushed in the arena."
****
"Ladies and gentlemen, give a big round of applause to Mr. Malkof and his student!" Tyron announced, pointing toward House Virellis.
*Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap*
Malkof raised his hand, forcing a smile, and turned to Leon with a mixture of pride and confusion on his face.
"U-Umm... Mr. Leon, if you don't mind me asking..." Malkof whispered nervously. "Why are you wearing that ridiculous coat? They're already mocking us... And now you're-ugh... Why did you even take the Non-Attending spot?"
"Yawn... Tell me when it's my turn. I'll just sit on the chair for now." Leon muttered as he lazily slumped into a chair nearby.
"This guy... Fuck." Malkof grumbled under his breath and sat down next to Leon, keeping his gaze on the stage.
****
"Well then, ladies and gentlemen!" Tyron continued, full of energy. "As you know, every month we invite special guests from the Royal Castle to observe the duels. These guests sometimes offer incredible opportunities-mentorship, employment, artifacts, or even coin as extra rewards to some of the students.
Let's welcome Sir Wander Blain from the prestigious Seven-Star Blain Household. He's one of the most distinguished men you'll ever lay eyes on-Commander General of the Southern Borders that are attached to the Elven Borders!"
Tyron spoke as he pointed to the top-left corner of the stadium.
*Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap*
Everyone turned their attention to a grand observation platform floating above the seats. Five ornate red chairs were arranged there-one in the front and four behind it.
Sir Wander Blain and his wife sat side by side, while Derisa Demar occupied the third seat. In the fourth sat an elderly woman, well into her eighties.
"Our next guest," Tyron announced with reverence, "is a true force of nature-the Eighth General of the Royal Army, feared and respected by all. She's also known as the Ruthless Sword Queen: Madam Derisa Demar!"
*Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap*
"And finally," Tyron smiled broadly, "words fall short to describe this wornan-perhaps the most powerful mage in the known world, the one who pushed back and Entire army of Elfs and cleaned out an B-ranked dungeon on her own in only 1 year.
She's the Royal Mage, the King's right hand. After months of petitioning, she has graced us with her presence.
Please welcome... Madam Ariana Lonewolf!"
*Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap*
Suddenly, a deep voice boomed through the stadium.
"Well then..."
"Huh?" Leon opened one eye, looking around in confusion.
"Shall we begin this month's duels?" the voice echoed as a shadow emerged in front of the honored guests.
*Swish*
"HoHoHoHo..." Laughter rang out as the Headmaster appeared on stage, wearing a flowing greenish gown. Standing next to him was a woman in a sleek black clothes.
The chief guests immediately stood and bowed to the Headmaster and not only them but every single student sitting inside the stadium stood up and greeted him-everyone except Ariana, who simply stood up and smiled.
"How are you, stupid brother?" Ariana asked warmly, walking forward and hugging him.
"Holy shit... They're siblings?" Tyron whispered, stunned.
"As good as you left me, dirty witch," the Headmaster replied with a smile. "Can't say that last word out loud, but I know you get my point."
"Don't worry. Your students can't hear us," Ariana chuckled. "So, You are still pulling off dramatic entrances, huh?"
"Well, I am the Headmaster, sister. Now, everyone, please take your seats. The matches are about to begin."
The Headmaster settled into the front seat, turning to Tyron with a nod.
"Well then..." Tyron grinned, raising the horn once more. "Let's kick off the first match!
Representing House Umbraeth, we have Mr. Julius Olwen!
And his opponent-from House Drakemor-Mr. Carson Lonel!
A Magi versus a Swordsman... Well then...
LET THE FIGHT... BEGIN!"
-x-X-x-
"I'll fucking end this match in one blow..." Carson growled, a wide grin stretching across his face as he raised his sword high above his head.
"Well, well... Looks like Carson is fired up and ready to give it everything he's got," Tyron commented, smiling as he gracefully leapt off the stage.
"Death is the only truth..." Julius muttered coldly. From beneath his dark, rune-engraved robe, he drew out a human femur bone-bound with totems and radiating eerie magical energy.
"Oh my god... That thing looks downright terrifying," Tyron exclaimed, eyes wide as he turned to the audience. "Looks like Julius isn't here to take any insults from Carson today."
"But, as both of you know..." Tyron added, his voice projecting across the arena, "there are only two rules in these duels. First, you are not allowed to kill your opponent. Second, you may use anything-except forbidden spells and cursed items."
"Oh, I'll show this gloomy bastard who the fuck I am. Come at me, bitch!" Carson shouted and charged forward, sword gleaming under the sun as he sprinted toward Julius.
Meanwhile, seated casually in his chair, Leon's eyes narrowed slightly. Without lifting a finger, he activated his skill.
[Name: Carson Lonel]
[Class: Swordsman]
[Race: Human]
[HP: 300/300]
[MP: 100/150]
[Description: Carson is the third son of the Lonely family. He's a skilled swordsman, but his overconfidence and fragile ego often drag him down during fights.]
[Name: Julius Olwen]
[Class: Dark Magi]
[Race: Human]
[HP: 450/600]
[MP: 132/300]
[Description: Julius Olwen, an orphan adopted by the Olwen family, possesses an exceptional memory for spells and is a specialist in illusion magic.]
"Oh my god... Carson's already slashed at Julius, and he hasn't even moved! Is this the end of the duel already!?" Tyron shouted, his voice echoing as the crowd leaned forward.
*Swish*
Carson's blade swung through Julius's form-right at his neck-but it passed through like slicing smoke.
"An illusion..." Leon spoke with a smile.
"What the-!?" Carson stumbled forward, his balance thrown off. But before he could recover, Julius appeared behind him and gently tapped his back with the bone wand.
*Touch*
"Fuc-"
"Shadow Blast."
*BOOM*
A burst of black light erupted from the wand, sending Carson sprawling across the ground.
"Death is the only way... " Julius whispered, a mocking smirk tugging at his lips as he stared down at his fallen opponent.
"You fucking asshole..." Carson growled, struggling to rise, but Julius calmly placed the bone wand against his back again.
"Stand up and I promise, you'll feel pain in a very unpleasant spot every time you try to walk straight," Julius warned darkly, sliding the wand lower toward Carson's tailbone.
'He should've aimed just a little lower. Then Carson would've felt that pain every single morning,' Leon mused with a smirk from the sidelines.
"F-Fuck... I-I surrender!" Carson shouted in frustration, slamming a fist into the ground.
*Thud*
"Very well! The winner of the first match-Julius Olwen of House Umbraeth!" Tyron announced, striding back onto the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I don't even know what just happened, but that was incredible! Once again, Umbraeth House shows why it's feared-merciless and direct."
"You... You don't fight with honor," Carson spat angrily, glaring at Julius.
"No matter how you fight... Death doesn't care, " Julius replied coldly as he turned and walked back toward his house.
-x-X-x-
"Without wasting a moment, we'll move to the next match!" Tyron's voice boomed again. "Next up- Jimmy Ozword from House Aurinox. Oh! That's my house. And facing him... Ingrid Hall from House Aetherwyn."
"An Enchanter versus a Mage. But there's a twist, folks. Jimmy is a senior-fourth year-while Ingrid is just a second-year junior. This one's going to be interesting! And now, let the match... BEGIN!"
"Visit my room after the match, sweetheart. I'll show you how to enchant something real good," Jimmy said with a playful wink toward Ingrid.
"Are you serious right now? We're in the middle of a duel," Ingrid snapped, pulling out her wand and pointing it at him.
"Then come at me. You've already enchanted my heart, beautiful," Jimmy grinned.
"Aldos Inferno!" Ingrid shouted, unleashing a barrage of twenty blazing fire bullets from her wand.
*Swish-Swish-Swish-Swish*
"There it is- Ingrid's flame barrage! But the bullets are flying at such irregular intervals! Can Jimmy dodge them all?" Tyron shouted, excitement filling his voice.
But Jimmy didn't even flinch. He stood still, smiling.
*Boom-Boom-Boom*
The bullets slammed into him, enveloping his body in smoke.
"They hit him-dead on! He didn't even move! Could this be the end for Jimmy?" Tyron asked as the crowd held their breath.
"D-Did I win...?" Ingrid asked timidly, her eyes focused on the smoke.
But then the smoke cleared-and Jimmy stood there, completely unharmed. Not a single burn or scratch on his clothes.
"What the-?" Ingrid gasped, utterly bewildered.
"Looks like Jimmy just gave us all a lesson in enchantments, " Tyron laughed as he immediately understood what had just happened.
"His clothes are covered in defensive enchantments," Leon commented calmly.
"That's not possible... The uniforms are already enchanted. You can't just- "Malkof began, but Leon cut him off.
"They look like academic uniforms, but they're not. He's wearing fakes-replicas enchanted with his own magic." Leon spoke with a smile as he had already inspected his clothes.
"While the crowd's attention was focused on Jimmy, no one noticed the small pendant he had tossed beneath Ingrid's feet." Leon added.
"What!?" Malkof hissed, spotting the trinket.
"I summon the almighty air... Show me the path!" Jimmy declared dramatically.
*WHOOOSH*
A gust of wind blasted from the pendant-lifting Ingrid's skirt and revealing her white panties to the entire stadium.
"Kyaaah!" Ingrid screamed and dashed off the stage in embarrassment.
"Well... I- I don't have anything to add, except... that was Jimmy, ladies and gentlemen. And he has won the match with his perverted magic," Tyron declared with an awkward smile.
"And now, the match we've all been waiting for!" Tyron continued, his voice booming again. "I know I've said this about every match so far, but this next one promises to be the shortest... and perhaps the funniest!"
"Please welcome... Leon Luster from House Virellis! And his opponent -Veronica Reynal from House Zevrath!" Tyron spoke with a smile as he pointed towards Malkof.
"Kid... You are going upstage. Don't fear anything and don't worry about the house's reputation. Just say that you admit defeat and come down.
It's really easy." Malkof spoke with a serious expression as he looked at Leon.
"Huh...?" Leon looked at Malkof with a confused expression.
'What kind of motivation is that? This guy wants the only candidate of his house to surrender without even fighting? What a stupid teacher.' Leon thought with a neutral expression as he walked upto the stage.
-x-X-x-
As Leon stepped onto the stage, his eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of a girl walking up from the opposite end.
'Hmm...? Have I seen her before?' Leon wondered, his expression mildly puzzled.
"So, Mr. Leon Luster... the lone warrior fighting on behalf of House Virellis," Tyron said, his voice laced with a teasing tone as he glanced at Leon's coat. "Looks like you came prepared with your outfit too, huh?"
Leon turned to face him, his expression neutral and unreadable.
"Why are you asking me extra questions?" he asked calmly. "You didn't do it with the other students. Are you mocking my House, Teacher?"
'Speak now, motherfucker...' Leon thought as he laughed in his mind.
"N-No... I would never do that!" Tyron stammered, suddenly flustered. "I-I am a teacher myself-why would I mock your house? After all, alchemists are also a part of-"
"Can we start this?" Leon interrupted flatly.
"Y-Yes... Ahem." Tyron cleared his throat awkwardly. "A Summoner versus an Alchemist... FIGHT!"
He wasted no time leaping off the stage.
****
"Do you see it, or is it just me, Brother?" Ariana asked from behind, her sharp eyes locked onto Leon.
"I see it too, Sister," the Headmaster replied with a small smirk. "The only question is how he got it... and whether he knows how to use it."
"You know that boy, don't you?" Ariana asked, glancing at Derisa with a sly smile.
"Ma'am?" Derisa blinked in confusion, feigning innoсеnсе.
"Don't make confused faces, Sword Queen. I saw the smile on your face the moment he walked onto the stage-and the subtle change in your posture too," Ariana remarked knowingly.
"I-I do know him, but-"
"Relax. I won't press you for answers", Ariana said with a chuckle. "Just wanted to make sure my observation skills weren't getting rusty."
"I... I see," Derisa murmured softly, her eyes drifting back to the arena.
****
"Commoner... Didn't you recognize me?" Veronica asked from across the stage, with a neutral expression on her face.
[Name: Veronica Reynal]
[Class: Summoner]
[Race: Human]
[HP: 400/400]
[MP: 200/200]
[Description: Veronica Reynal, fifth noble daughter of the prestigious Seven-Star Reynal House. Her summons aren't that powerful.]
"Ah... you're that girl," Leon replied, still expressionless as he met her gaze.
"So? Are you going to accept defeat now, or what?" Veronica asked, genuinely confused by his calm demeanor.
"I don't plan to," Leon answered simply.
"Well then... I summon the force of nature to fight for me," Veronica declared as she pulled a folded parchment from her pocket and infused it with mana.
*Swisssssh!*
A sharp gust of wind struck the stage, and from the swirl of turbulent air, a small humanoid figure materialized-its body formed entirely from condensed wind.
Without hesitation, Leon narrowed his eyes and activated his skill.
[Name: Unknown]
[Race: Small Wind Spirit]
[Level: 4]
[HP: 800/800]
[MP: 400/400]
[Description: A contracted spirit that can be summoned at will to destroy the summoner's opponent.]
"Oh my god... Veronica has summoned a wind spirit at such a young age! What else can you expect from the daughter of a Seven-Star Household?" Tyron exclaimed with visible excitement.
"Throw him out of the arena", Veronica commanded coldly.
Obeying its master, the wind spirit conjured three massive blades formed from compressed air and launched them directly at Leon.
*Swish! Swish! Swish!*
"There it is! The wind spirit's first attack! Can Leon defend against that?!" Tyron's voice rang out through the arena.
Leon calmly reached into his coat and retrieved a small vial filled with greyish liquid.
"Let's try this..." he muttered as he threw the vial to the ground.
*Psssh!*
A thick grey mist erupted on impact, engulfing Leon in a dense fog. The wind blades sliced into the mist -yet none emerged from the other side.
"Haha! Would you look at that - Leon has already hidden himself inside some strange mist created by a potion!" Tyron shouted.
"That potion..." Malkof stood from his seat, his eyes narrowing.
"The Killer Mist Potion", Ariana said with an amused smirk. "This kid's got guts."
[Name: Killer Mist]
[Type: Consumable]
[Description: Creates a thick, vision-blocking mist with a one-meter radius. Absorbs all breathable air within the cloud for ten seconds.]
*Clink!*
Suddenly, a red-glowing vial shot out from the grey cloud, landing just inches away from Veronica.
*Stch-Puff!*
A burst of flame erupted, bright and sudden-drawing everyone's attention.
"What the-?!" Veronica flinched back, startled.
The grey mist began to disperse, revealing Leon standing unbothered beneath it.
"You used a killer mist potion just to dodge that? What kind of strategy is that?" Veronica scoffed. "And throwing a fire potion without even knowing my location? Are you stupid or-"
"Your spirit should really look below itself," Leon interrupted with a slight smirk.
Eyes widened as everyone turned their gaze toward the wind spirit.
Beneath its feet, another vial sat-this one filled with the same greyish mist, a dark black seal etched beneath it.
"No-"
"Kaboom."
*BOOOOOM!*
Another dense cloud of Killer Mist exploded around the wind spirit, swallowing it whole.
"That fire potion... it was just a distraction," Ariana murmured, her smile widening.
'That was indeed a distraction, But how did he sneak the potion beneath the spirit? That wasn't just some trick, neither did he threw that potion-that was precisely placed there.
He's too calm... completely unfazed. If he defeats the daughter of the Reynal Household, things could get... really complicated for him', the Headmaster mused silently, his gaze locked onto Leon.
"You... you killed my wind spirit," Veronica growled, her eyes shaking with rage.
"Oops. Looks like I hurt her feelings," Leon replied with a neutral expression.
"With God's grace... shall I summon my beloved - Arthur," Veronica spoke as she Summoned another creature.
*Grrrr...*
From the shadow behind Veronica, a low growl echoed. A beast emerged- its form lithe and cloaked in darkness, eyes gleaming red.
[Name: Arthur]
[Race: Shadow Wolf]
[Level: 10]
[HP: 1200/1200]
[MP: 600/600]
[Description: A shadow creature that dwells in the inner zones of the Vinceral Forest. Often tamed by summoners through special shadow-meat feeding rituals.]
'Named summon... A Level 10 at that. So this is her trump card', Leon thought calmly, his expression unshaken as he locked eyes with the beast.
****
"Either he plans to accept defeat... or he truly doesn't see that Shadow Wolf as a threat," Ariana murmured with a smile, her eyes glittering with curiosity. She turned to Derisa. "Tell me, just how strong can an alchemist be?"
"When I first met him... he was standing face to face with the leader of a demonic wolf pack," Derisa replied, her eyes glued to the arena. Her voice was steady, but tension lined her jaw.
'That boy... there's something strange about him', Wander Blain thought silently, a small smile tugging at the edge of his lips. 'He exudes an aura I've only seen in the most dangerous of men.
It's like... he already knows how everything will unfold. I could predict the outcomes of the previous matches at a glance. But this one? I can't. Or maybe... I just don't want to.'
On the stage, Veronica raised her hand with fury burning in her eyes.
****
"Arthur... kill him!" She ordered without any hesitation.
*Grrrrrr...*
"Oh my god!" Tyron's voice rang out. "Veronica has given the final command. Will Leon surrender? Or will this be the end for him?"
The Shadow Wolf lunged forward, his maw wide open, fangs gleaming like daggers as it charged at full speed.
"Well then... eat some starters, Arthur," Leon said with a smirk, pulling a yellow, glue-like vial from his pocket-its glass engraved with a black circular blast seal.
"Glitch Point."
A glowing red dot appeared in the air in front of him.
Leon adjusted his aim, lined up his throw, and launched the potion with perfect precision.
*Clench*
*Bite*
*Break*
The vial landed directly inside Arthur's wide open mouth. Instinctively, he bit down-and in that moment, the potion's bottle shattered.
A burst of thick, sticky liquid coated the inside of its mouth-clamping its jaws shut in an instant.
"Mnnnfff! Mnhhfff! Mnhhhhnfff!"
Arthur skidded to a halt, pawing desperately at his muzzle as panic set in.
"A-Arthur?!" Veronica rushed to his side. Her eyes widened in horror. "What... what happened?! What is wrong with your mouth?"
"What have you given him?" Veronica asked with a serious expression as she looked at Leon.
"Just some Sticky Potion..." Leon replied with a smile.
She immediately crouched down and saw it-Arthur's lower jaw glued tightly to the upper, a low muffled whimper vibrating from his sealed throat.
"If you don't surrender right now... Arthur's mouth will explode", Leon said coldly, his gaze piercing through her.
"Y-You're bluffing!" she shouted. "You don't-"
"Kaboom," Leon said calmly.
*BOOOOM*
Arthur's head exploded with a sickening blast-blood, muscle, and bone splattering across Veronica's face and all over the ground.
"N-N-N000000000! ARTHUR!!" she screamed as the shadow wolf's twitching corpse collapsed with a dull thud.
*Thud*
[Congratulations! You have Leveled Up!]
[Congratulations! You have Leveled Up!]
'Why would I warn her twice... when I get free EXP from killing her summon?' Leon thought as he turned to look at Malkof, who stood frozen in horror.
Not only him but the entire stadium had fallen into stunned silence. Not a single cheer echoed-not even from House Virellis. Because what they had witnessed wasn't just victory.
It was humiliation.
A commoner had crushed the daughter of a Seven-Star Household, she was screaming so loudly that it felt like a death ring to everyone's ears.
"Y-You... You'll pay for this, Leon Luster. I swear it", Veronica hissed through clenched teeth, pointing at him with trembling fingers.
"It was a duel. You commanded that thing to kill me. I didn't break any rules... I just killed your dog,not you" Leon said without flinching. "Now, if you have no other summons... doesn't that mean I win?"
"Right?" Leon asked as he turned to look at Tyron.
Tyron hesitated, glancing at Veronica. "M-Madam Veronica, do you-"
"I accept my defeat," she snapped, turning away and stepping down from the stage, her face tight with fury.
"T-The winner... is Leon Luster of House Virellis", Tyron declared with a shaking voice.
No applause followed as Leon stepped off the platform.
Not a single hand clapped as everyone looked at him with pity.
****
"That kid is ruthless, not afraid of death" Wander Blain muttered, his arms crossed. "She should've known he wasn't bluffing with that face. I should offer him to join my army."
"I don't understand," Derisa whispered. "What kind of potion could do that?"
"It was clearly a sticky potion. But the explosion..." Ariana narrowed her eyes. "He must've hidden a second trigger inside. But when? And how?
How can someone hide a triggering spell inside a potion that small ?"
"I have business to attend to, Please enjoy the duels." the headmaster said quietly, standing up from his seat and vanishing in a flash.
*Swish*
****
''You... Do you even understand what you've done?" Malkof said, walking beside Leon outside the arena.
"What?" Leon asked with a blank look.
"Don't play dumb! You just made Veronica Reynal your enemy! Even I won't be able to protect you now."
Leon stopped and turned to face him. "Then tell me... what should I have done?"
Malkof hesitated. "Y-You should've accepted defe-"
"Don't you feel ashamed saying that?" Leon cut him off, his voice low and sharp. "It's like you sold your honour at some cheap brothel?"
Malkof looked down, his lips pressed tightly together.
''At least... I'll live longer than you," he muttered.
'Mr. Leon must prefer to die before losing his honour."
The voice came from behind them, both of them turned around and noticed that the headmaster standing right behind them.
****