"Zeus?"
Leonard sensed Zeus's presence from behind, feeling their shared connection. This time, he hadn't summoned him; Zeus had just appeared on his own. Leonard recalled that he hadn't dismissed Zeus earlier, but sometimes, Zeus acted independently. That could explain why their connection had felt blurred, making it difficult for Leonard to summon him. It was odd—Zeus seemed to be ignoring him.
Yes, ignoring him. Both Zeus and Athena had ignored Leonard's summons, and he couldn't understand why.
Leonard closed his eyes and slowly moved aside, biting his lower lip as he steadied his breathing. He tried to push aside the frustration of being disregarded. Even though Zeus probably had an explanation, this wasn't the time for it. And he had a hunch about what it could be. It might just be a test for him to see how he would handle things without the two Greek deities.
Sensing Zeus's restrained temper, Leonard knew a fight could break out. He felt out of place, surrounded by adults eyeing each other warily.
"Who are you?" the Lady Knight demanded, her tone firm and authoritative.
Zeus glanced at the twin brothers, placing his hands on their shoulders. With a brief smile and dark eyes, he tightened his grip.
"Fellows, I assume you're not here to fight, but to save someone. You want to return that young lady to your home, then go ahead. There's no need for trouble."
A chill ran down the spines of the Dhampir warriors. From Zeus's gaze and presence, they felt utterly overpowered. Though they couldn't pinpoint why, it was clear that this man behind them was stronger.
Instinct told them they shouldn't ignore this warning. They were far from home, putting them at a disadvantage if a fight broke out. Moreover, they were only three in number, and they had no idea who else might become their enemy.
The brothers had honed sharp instincts, living through harsh environments and navigating the cunning ways of nobility. Their gut had always guided them well, and they knew better than to go against it.
"Zeus is the name, young knight," he said, turning his gaze toward the Lady Knight, separating the brothers as he stepped forward.
Seeing how submissive the brothers had become, the Lady Knight took a step back. Zeus continued to approach, and though her sword remained raised, she redirected it toward him.
"Come any closer, and I will slice you," she warned.
Zeus smirked and shook his head. "I'm afraid you can't do that, young knight. You know you can't."
"Don't challenge me!"
"Oh, no... I'm not challenging you. But you saw what happened. Your trusted subordinates didn't react, so why would you?"
The Lady Knight glared at the two Dhampir warriors and gestured with her head, ordering them to stand by Yuna, who remained unconscious. They followed her command without question.
She shifted her attention back to Zeus, whose imposing aura she couldn't ignore. He seemed stronger than her, though he hadn't done anything—just stood there, inching closer and closer.
Releasing a frustrated sigh, she snapped, "Don't compare me to them. They may be weak, but I'm different."
"I know that," Zeus replied with a smirk.
The Lady Knight fell silent, watching how confidently Zeus stood. There wasn't a weapon on him, so where was he drawing this confidence from?
Magic? That was her guess—that Zeus was a mage. If not, perhaps a brawler who fought with his fists. But that wasn't what she needed to focus on. Her priority was leaving and returning to the tower.
Clicking her tongue, she noticed the Dhampir warriors had Yuna in their arms. She gestured for them to move behind her, staying vigilant for any sudden actions from Zeus.
"We won't fight you. Our purpose is to retrieve our young Lady."
Zeus nodded, making no sound. The Lady Knight turned her gaze to Leonard, who had fallen silent as well. This time, his expression was calmer, a stark contrast to his earlier agitation before Zeus arrived.
Understanding the significance of Zeus's presence, she ordered her subordinates, "Let's go, before nightfall."
With that, the Dhampir warriors and the Lady Knight vanished in a blur, moving at a speed Leonard could never hope to match.
Once again, silence fell. Zeus turned to face Leonard, who had finally realigned his thoughts. With Yuna's safety no longer weighing on his mind, he realized how little he could have done for the town.
Coming to terms with his own shortcomings, Leonard lowered his head.
"This... I should leave the party now."
Leonard took a look at the state of the town. The aftermath of the chaos was evident—the worry painted across the faces of the townsfolk. He spotted his party, exhausted and catching their breaths from the earlier intense battle with the golems.
They were now searching for Yuna but had no success. When they found Leonard and Zeus at the wrecked entrance, they rushed over.
"Where's Yuna?" Jane asked, her voice filled with worry and agitation, concerned about why she wasn't with them.
Leonard was about to answer, but Zeus spoke first. "Her family took her. They saved her from the summoner."
Though confused, no one questioned Zeus's explanation. There wasn't a hint of deception in his tone, and none seemed needed. Moreover, they couldn't deny the possibility that Yuna had indeed been taken by her family.
Based on her appearance, attitude, and behavior, she had always hinted at a noble background. Since she'd joined the party, there had always been reservations about the story that Yuna came from an orphanage. After all, her actions never quite reflected that of someone who grew up in one.
To them, Yuna seemed more like a carefully nurtured flower.
Brian sighed, scratching his head as he gazed off into the distance. "So, this is it then? The party's breaking up, huh?"
Surprised, Liam's eyes widened. He looked around in disbelief, searching the faces of the others for any sign of disagreement with Brian's words. But there was none.
As if his world had crumbled, Liam's head dropped, eyes still wide with shock. The party had meant everything to him, and now, Brian was saying they were going to disband? What purpose would he have left?
Biting his lip and clenching his jaw, Liam turned his back on the party. Not understanding the sudden decision, there was nothing he could do. They seemed resolute in their choice, and the atmosphere wasn't conducive to discussion.
Liam knew well that the party wasn't dependent on each other. Each member had different goals, which is why they had come together to address their shortcomings. But what would happen to him? He had no one.
Yet, it didn't seem to be a problem at the moment.
"If that's what's happening, I won't disagree."