Leon stood atop the castle roof, staring out at the moonlit landscape. The cool night air wrapped around him, offering a brief respite from the whirlwind of thoughts that had plagued him since his return. The silvery glow of the moon washed over everything below, creating a serene contrast to the relentless chaos of his past life.
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the calmness of the night seep into him. It was strange—this peace, this stillness. Normally, he wouldn't have been able to relax for so long. In his past life, there had never been a moment to truly rest. Sleep had been a luxury he couldn't afford, and every night had been spent with one eye on his magical book, preparing for the next war.
But now, things were different.
After his recent encounter with Morgana, he'd gained a new talent: Enchanted Magic Modification: Principle of Enchantment and Research. This power allowed him to delve deeper into the principles of magic, refining and enhancing his spells with a precision he had never achieved before. As a result, his system had upgraded, now displaying detailed stats: Strength, Dexterity, Agility, Vitality, and Mana. This new interface gave him a clearer understanding of his capabilities—how far he could push himself and where his limits lay.
[Leon]
[Tier: 2]
[STR: 10]
[AGI: 8]
[DEX: 12]
[VIT: 19]
[MP: 57]
He opened his eyes, glancing at his hands as he flexed his fingers. The faint, glowing symbols etched into his skin from the pact with the Demon Empress still shimmered faintly in the moonlight. Power surged through him, but with it came a bitter reminder of the betrayal that had brought him here.
"Such power within me," he thought, clenching his fists. "They wanted me to die along with the demons, just so they could become the top dogs without sacrificing anything. They wanted me out of the picture. But now, I've become even stronger with the demon race's bloodline. How ironic."
His mind drifted back to his former teammates—those so-called "allies" who had abandoned him when it mattered most.
If only they had cooperated, just a little, shown me that they cared, maybe…
They had left him to handle everything while they indulged in their own comforts. Leon could still see them sleeping soundly while he had been forced to stay awake, casting warding spells, laying traps, cooking, and creating a safe space for them to rest. And if they weren't sleeping, they were engaging in other activities—intimate moments behind his back, oblivious to the burden he carried for the group.
Not just during the times of war—during peace, too, he had to do everything. He might as well have been called the hero. In the end, they didn't even use their power to help him defeat the demon race; they just wanted to save themselves and sacrifice him instead.
I did everything for them, he thought bitterly. And they repaid me with indifference. They used me until they no longer needed me. Now, this time, even after I'm done using them, don't think you will ever be free!
Leon exhaled slowly, the frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior. His gaze traveled across the castle grounds, taking in the meticulously maintained gardens and the sprawling estate. The noble house wasn't the most powerful, but it was still significant—affluent enough to hold sway.
It would have been easy for him to destroy it, to bring it all crumbling down. But that would bring more trouble than it was worth. Not yet. Not now.
Or perhaps, he mused to himself with a smirk, stealing its fortune might actually be possible.
Before Leon could descend from the rooftop and return to his room for sleep, a faint sound reached his ears—soft, broken sobs carried by the night wind. He stopped in his tracks, listening intently as the sound grew clearer. It was coming from somewhere above, an isolated part of the castle.
Intrigued, Leon quietly made his way higher up the castle, following the sound of the crying. He moved with a grace that only someone of his skill could manage and soon found himself near a small, abandoned room at the top of the castle. Peering through the window, he saw Evelina, alone and slumped against the wall, her face buried in her hands as she wept.
She looked so small and fragile, a stark contrast to the composed woman he had seen earlier. Her cries were full of anguish, and as he listened, he heard her speaking between sobs, her voice filled with despair.
"I hate this... I hate everything," Evelina whispered, her voice trembling. "Why? Why can't anyone love me? Not even my own daughter..." She choked on her words, her tears flowing freely. "Why am I even alive? What's the point? I'm just a burden... I should just... end it all."
Her voice grew quieter, and she seemed to be talking to herself—or perhaps to some higher power. "Please, God... Ancestors... If you can hear me, tell me... Is it time? Can I do it? Can I finally end this pain? If I shouldn't... send me a sign... because if you don't, I swear I'll do it tonight."
Leon's heart clenched at her words. He had no love for this family, but seeing Evelina like this—so broken, so desperate—it stirred something within him. She wasn't like the others. She was suffering, trapped in a life that seemed to offer her nothing but pain.
He couldn't just walk away. Not this time.
The last time he saw her was at her grave.
Using his magic, Leon projected his voice through the window, altering it slightly so she wouldn't recognize him. His voice was calm and smooth, with a hint of playfulness to soften the weight of the moment.
"You should stop right there, Lady Evelina. Trust me, I'm a god."
Evelina gasped, her head snapping up as she searched the room for the source of the voice. "Who... Who's there?"
Leon remained hidden outside, his presence concealed. Using [Arcane Eyes], he could see her without being seen.
"Just a wanderer," he said, his tone gentle but firm. "I was passing by and heard the cry of a woman in pain. I couldn't just leave without seeing if she was alright."
As he spoke, he cast a healing spell on her cheek, a warm yellow light washing over her.
Evelina wiped her tears, her voice shaky. "A... wanderer? How... How did you get here?"
"I have my ways," Leon replied, his voice carrying a soft smile. "But that's not important right now. What's important is that I couldn't ignore such a sorrowful sound from someone as innocent as you. It seems like you've been carrying a heavy burden for far too long."
Evelina's tears welled up again, but this time she tried to hold them back. "I... I don't know why I'm even here anymore. No one cares about me. Not my daughter, not my husband... I'm just... so tired."
Leon's voice softened further, almost a whisper in the night. "You don't need to feel that way, Lady Evelina. I may be a stranger, but even I can see that you're someone who deserves more than this... more than the pain you're enduring. Ending it all won't solve anything. You have more to offer this world than you realize."
"But... what if it never gets better?" Evelina asked, her voice trembling. "What if this is all there is?"
"It will get better," Leon assured her, though he knew how empty such promises could sound in the face of despair. "You just need to hold on a little longer. The world has a way of surprising us, even when we think there's nothing left."
Evelina looked down, clutching her hands together. "I don't even know who you are... Why should I believe you?"
Leon allowed a soft chuckle to escape his lips. "Because, Lady Evelina, even a wanderer like me can see your worth. You're stronger than you think. And besides," his tone shifted to something more teasing, "it would be a shame to lose someone as beautiful as you to the darkness."
Evelina blinked, a faint blush coloring her cheeks despite her sadness. "Beautiful...? You're just saying that," she said softly.
"Perhaps," Leon replied with a smirk, "but sometimes a bit of flattery is what we need to remind ourselves of who we truly are. You're more than just a burden, Evelina. You're someone who still has a future—if you're willing to fight for it. And if you count the number of people who want you to be part of their future, even more so, including me."
Evelina blushed, her heart pounding. "Such flattery could be dangerous, you know?" she murmured.
Evelina sat in silence for a moment, letting his words sink in. The tears still lingered in her eyes, but the desperation had lessened slightly. "Thank you... wanderer," she whispered. "I... I don't know who you are, but... thank you."
"Anytime, Lady Evelina," Leon said, his voice softening. "Just remember, no matter how dark things seem, there's always a chance for the light to return."
"Hey, wanderer, before you go, can you tell me… how did you know my name?" Evelina asked, curiosity lacing her tone.
Leon chuckled. "Let's just say I'm one of your fans."
With that, Leon allowed his magic to fade, leaving Evelina alone in the room. She sat there for a while, pondering his words, before slowly rising to her feet. Though her heart still ached, the hopelessness that had gripped her loosened. For the first time in a long while, she felt a sliver of hope.