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Jessica started freaking out the moment she walked off the Mercenary Hall with Leon. That was her first time ever to see an Elf up close and she was completely charmed.

Strange as it sounded, most humans hold prejudice against different races. Hell, against different colors even. Racism is a widespread social problem in this world in particular, especially thanks to the faith of the Holy Light which has a thing for human supremacy. However, people who are unaffiliated with faith or politics like Jessica were easily drawn to what they perceive as beautiful. Those who see the Elves as beautiful creatures usually become this lovestruck but those who don't can get just racist so for the most part, it also depended on taste.

Leon, on the other hand, had his head in a completely different idea and wasn't even listening.

His back was burning… it started to feel as if it was on fire.

"Jessica, would you mind following, please?" Leon spoke as he turned away from the main street and walked into an alley.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"I am not sure." He said as he put down the sack and the backpack he was carrying then turned his back to her, "Pull up my shirt and see if there is something wrong with my back."

Jessica blinked a couple of times but that wasn't the strangest request a man would ask from her. She did as he asked and looked at his naked back.

"Nothing different." She said.

"Nothing at all?" He felt strange, "I feel like there is a line of fire going across my back."

He started pointing with his thumb on the place he felt the burn from.

"Oh! That's your old scar." She said.

"An old scar?" He furrowed his brows not knowing Leon had one.

"Yes. A long scar across your back almost vertically. Saw it when I changed your clothes the night we pulled you off the river. Looked pretty old and all healed up." She said, "What? You forgot you had a scar?"

"Oh! That one?" Leon feigned forgetfulness, "It just never felt like this before."

A Scar? On his back?

There was nothing about this in Leon's bio from the game or his surviving memories after the reincarnation. Leon's original memories were locked so deep that even the current Leon was having it hard to pull them up. If such an important injury was on him, it must be from the grey timeline which is Leon's past.

It was funny. He can't remember any of Leon's memories normally but he can only recall things when something bad happens. It is as if Leon has nothing but dark memories.

"Alright. I will deal with this or whatever." He said as he fixed his shirt, "Did you think about our talk last night?"

Jessica closed her eyes, took a breath in, and nodded.

"Truth be told, you are a better fighter than I thought you are. I don't think the Dogs will stand a chance against you but you are just one. More to that, Ruth has the support of the man running this part of the city." Jessica said.

"The Overboss… I have heard of him." Leon nodded, "How powerful is he?"

"You don't want to find out." Jessica said, "I have known people scarier than Ruth but they all fear the Bull."

"The Bull? That's his animal codename?"

"Yes. He is a big deal around here. He controls the markets and makes profits from all the rackets. He has allies in big, high, low, and small places alike and on top of all that, I heard that he has his own little army." She said.

"For a hooker, you hear more than most." Leon said with narrowed eyes.

"Hooker you ass. I am a bartender." She said.

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that." He laughed, "People like the Bull are only interested in big money or more influence. I can't guarantee him any of those since I have neither but if I… hmmm…" Leon sighed and pulled out a paper from his pocket.

"This is the job you received from the Guild?" Jessica asked.

"Yes. It is quite interesting." He said, "Can I mingle those two things in the span of three days?"

"What are you saying?" Jessica asked.

"Just a plan for a plan." He replied casually and looked, "Just one thing, how bad do you want to get rid of Ruth?"

The question seemed normal but Jessica showed a strange reaction to Leon's words. She was really pissed all of sudden as if an urge inside her was begging to be released but she let out a suppressed breath of pain and turned away for a while to shake off her negative emotions before turning to Leon again.

"There is something between me and Ruth, private. I know you asked Molly and her mouth slipped here and there but Ruth is mine to take down. You just have to make it easy for me." She said.

"Whatever." Leon seemed less interested in the matter, "I will deal with whatever nonsense comes up but you have to make sure that you cover up after me when I leave this place. I wanted as if I never existed…" Leon said slowly and then glared at her murderously, "Or else!"

"I get it." She nodded.

It is always wise not to leave a trail of blood behind. Jessica and any prostitute in the world are by no means trustworthy but they know when not to get into trouble. Involving themselves into aristocratic matters is usually what ends with the prostitutes in dungeons on gallows. At least that much is base knowledge and common sense.

"Alright. Go back to the Saloon now. Wait for my instructions on what to do next." He said and carried the things he bought, "I will take those to a safe place."

***

When Leon brought that amount of gear from the Mercenary Hall, he made sure that it was enough to get him out of most situations he may run into during his escape from the Capital.

He wasn't sure where exactly he should go after this. Away from politics is a good idea but every time he thinks like that, something within him keeps telling him not to escape and face the shit storm head-on. Of course he won't do that but he needs to be ready either way.

That's how much he is ready.

——————————

- Mithril Dagger

- Merlins Pocket Watch

- Magic ID Plate

- Chameleon Cloak

- Ebonthread Suit

- Brigandine Jacket

- Steel Helmet

- Light Protection set

- 4x Sword

- 2x Spear

- 4x Daggers

- Crossbow (40 bolts)

- Shortbow (100 arrows)

- 4x Hatchets

- 8x Bear Traps

- Exploration Pack

- 7x Maps

- 16x Books

- 31x Pieces of Clothes

« Money: 12 Gold Crowns / 43 Silver Shillings / 53 Copper Pennies »

——————————

Everything was in order and he was finally prepared for most situations.

What was still getting on his mind was the scar that kept burning him on his back. It was literally an itch he can't scratch.

As he was sitting on a rooftop at the moment where no one could see him, he took off his shirt and decided to try and deal with this somehow. He has already dabbled into Magic to the point where he was synthesizing spells at a rapid pace. He already knows a lot by switching between different elements and trying to copy the method of casting from one to another manually in order to make them. For example, he copied [Earth Magic - Earth Control] from a mage but he broke down the spell manually and discovered [Air Magic - Wind Control] from it.

[Air Magic - Wind Reinforcement] was also a spell he copied and it is a spell which if applied on weapons, it will make them faster and sharper while if it was applied on the body of the caster, it will make the caster faster and such. The versatility of the Magic was very wide in this case. From that spell, Leon fashioned up [Earth Magic - Earth Reinforcement] which makes the caster or the target way sturdier but they get surrounded by dust a lot and such. Not really ideal in every situation.

Breaking down a spell and putting it back up with a different Element was thanks to him being an Arcane Theorist who has the ability of the [Unrestrained Magic] which by its part opened the door for him into some unheard of magic spells. He may not have fully invested too much time down that path yet only because he doesn't have much time and lacks base spells to break down and expand on. He even had the idea of reversing magic which sounded very scary if it was really applied.

Either way, he started to compose a new spell now in order to deal with the pain caused by that scar. He decided to use the Elemental Reinforcement technique with the Elemental Control technique and apply it on the Light Magic he just acquired yesterday.

The process can be either too long or too short depending on what Element he is using. For example, expanding on the Air Element was really easy since the air was basically everywhere but expanding on the Earth Element took more time despite the earth being just beneath his feet. The thing is that he couldn't submerge himself with the element of Earth thus it was hard to keep contact with it.

And that is exactly why he is on a rooftop now standing under the Sun, the Primary Source of all Light in the world.

After some time contemplating and understanding the structure of the spell, this message appeared.

Reinforcing one's self with the Light Element can be very dangerous actually. Mostly, the Element tries to adds in its beneficial characteristics which make certain buffs possible yet with a very advanced Element such as the Light Element, it is almost impossible to gain all of its buffs at Level 1 of its skill thus [Light Magic - Light Reinforcement] skill proved to be very high-leveled. Leon only managed to recreate the harmonious effect of the Light Element and its reaction Vitality Reinforcing properties and thus the spell [Heal] was born.

Leon can finally use this to deal with the scar that is tormenting him.

Twisting his arms to reach the hard-to-reach spot on his back, Leon sighed and chanted the spell.

"Heal!"

The Light Element gathered slowly by the power of the Mana on the palms of Leon and started to mutate its nature to repair any damage on its target. The power of the spell wasn't strong but Leon could at least do something about those old wounds.

A sense of comfort overtook him as the spell slowly removed all the discomfort he felt as if he was being washed from inside by pure warm sunlight.

"No wonder the people of this world worship the Light." Leon laughed to himself.

It was getting clear to him how magnificent and useful this beautiful element can be. Still, the potential of weaponizing this sort of magic is scary… almost defies its holy reputation to an unholy form of abuse.

The healing was over and Leon finally felt better than…

"What the…"

No. He didn't feel better.

The moment he stopped the spell, the burn from his scar started coming back again as if he had done nothing.

"Fuck."

The healing spell only served as a painkiller and the real pain is growing even more now.

It is not that the Light Magic is useless, it is as if he has a symptom that transcends being a mere physical injury.

Can it be that old wounds don't get healed quite easily or something? Or is it that he has some sort of inner injury after the spar from a while ago.

No, none of that can be it. He isn't sure what is wrong but this itch is becoming an obsession that he can't even touch… but the Light Magic was useful from a while ago.

"Then… I'll try this."

Leon thought of one last solution and did the same process once again. This time he cast [Light Magic - Heal] to remove the pain then added one more thing to it.

"Seal!"

The sealing spell which he copied from the pillar from the Temple was one strange spell. It has the ability to not only trap certain spells but to Trap the Mana as well.

And just like that, the burning disappeared.

Leon let out a long breath and moved on from the roof. His problems keep increasing and if he doesn't deal with them one by one starting now, it is going to turn messy.

***

"WHAT?"

Erielle opened her eyes and stood up with a shocked look in her eyes.

"Eri, what happened?"

Across the room, standing by a window was a silver-haired woman with mature beauty and majestic appearance as the rays of light were reflected by her hair giving off an aura.

"Must be nothing, she's just dozing off from boredom." Vadim replied as he sat behind a wide desk smoking from his pipe.

"No!"

On the other hand, Erielle rushed to the corner of the room where a crystal ball sat on a table, she took it and made her Mana rush into it.

"What's wrong?" Eleanor realized that something important must have happened and walked immediately to Erielle.

"The Mark…" Erielle said, "The Soul Mark I put on Leon… it is gone."