In distress, people tend to act recklessly and repulsively, sometimes desperately but always out of fear, whether it of imminent danger or a response to depressive thoughts. Leon can be categorized as the second type but the first type is what should be focused upon here as the situation just now took a complete shade of bloody red.

*Screech*

"No! Get away!"

*swoosh* *swoosh* *brrrrn*

As a wooden arrow landed deep in the tree trunk just making this vibrative sound beside her right ear, the girl ducks away from the volley of arrows which almost obliterated her.

She survived by a hair's width this time and the time before it made her only hope not to be put in that similar situation again.

Just what devil convinced her that it would be a good idea to venture into the forest alone and reach deep to the location of the Holy Pillar installed to ward off the monsters? Didn't she think for a second that it would be a dangerous area crawling with monsters at the moment?

The answer is that she was desperate, too desperate to catch Prince Edward's attention once again. The only way to do so is to be in the limelight like that one time back in the day. If not for her mother's advice, she wouldn't have wrapped the Prince's heart around her fingers but she still managed to do it. All of that was until they joined the accursed academy. When the Prince was flocked by all kinds of girls now that he is out in the open, it started to be hard for her to keep his company at first but it now became impossible. Not that she can't compete with the other girls but rather how many they have become. She would never stoop too low to join the masses around the Prince who originally belonged to her. Too bad he didn't even notice.

But that's a totally irrelevant situation at the moment. She had to run for her dear life and she had to run hard. Still, it was relevant. The situation she is running towards is back to the camp and if the Prince and his entourage saved her life, she would be put to shame and become a laughingstock. Well, it was either that or be killed by the greenskins.

"KYAAA!"

… Or step on a trap and be left in the air with the monsters gathering around her growling, jumping, and aiming their crude weapons as their eyes gleamed with their

She is now under the mercy of the monsters.

***

As smoke was blown mixed with the strong aroma of the herbal mixture, the person on the other side of the smoke kept looking with a solemn expression at Leon who skillfully wielded his pipe and lighted the fire chamber while taking in small puffs of smoke on a frequent pace as if he was a professional smoker since ages unknown.

"The place to your liking?" Erielle asked.

"A bird doesn't have to dislike his cage." Leon replied.

"You are not being held against your will." She replied.

"Am I?"

"You are."

"So if I go right now and twist that little fucker's neck?"

"I am going to stop you…"

"See?!"

"… for your own good, Leon."

Leon wasn't a fan of that woman since he discovered that she was trying to spy on him for some time now.

Erielle, that's her name. An Elf with a bizarre sense of fashion and high tolerance to smokes and whatever Leon tried to annoy her with.

After participation in the Centipede Stampede subjugation, Leon hoped that he would improve his mental and physical status by letting off those negative depressive thoughts and focus on leveling his skills but alas, a Prince had to show up.

Leon just doesn't remember why his mood turned so dark when he saw the face of the accursed Prince but if he were to put it in words, the negative emotions of the original Leon were the moving factor. Something that is part of his nature and he can no longer control especially in an environment rich with things that may awaken that old soul.

Vadim caused him a nervous breakdown he so much wanted to avoid thus he never met the Dwarf after returning to the camp, the sight of the Prince made things worse so he is now focusing on that calming smoke prescription. Still, the Elf called Erielle is interfering this time.

She showed up and invited him in the Hall's building under the guise of rewarding him for contribution before offering him a warm room to stay in as well as a meal. She didn't say one word of advice even and remained looking in her book.

"For someone who was focusing on tracking me down, you are the most underwhelming so far." Leon said.

"Is that so?" She replied, taking her eye off the book before continuing, "We wouldn't face difficulties such as the ones we faced with you. We underestimated your skills, Leon, so we misjudged you. That was our mistake."

"I am in your hands now. What are you planning on doing?" He asked.

"Nothing… unless it has to do with saving your hide from a life-threatening decision."

"So I can leave?"

"You can…"

"Thanks."

Without even a second glance, Leon stood up from his end of the table and walked to the door. He suddenly stopped and looked behind him with narrowed eyes, seeing that the elf was not reacting while the door opened slowly and he just stepped out.

Nothing was wrong so far. No spells around or anything of the sort.

"Hmmm!" He couldn't help but hum on his way out as he just walked away without looking back.

Dangling from his side was a purse heavy with money. He subjugated a lot of centipedes thus his reward was especially generous and so he was taken in by Erielle under the guise of giving him his share.

Normally the Hall wouldn't bother unless the mercenary came in but there was more to the matter as Erielle explained. His initiation mission was considered complete and he even rose to rank E.

He wasn't in any way caring or happy about the reward or the rank up though. His mind was still experiencing this hateful feeling that possessed him when he met the damnable Prince.

But something is rather strange about it.

Yes, Leon hated the Prince and this feeling came from within the old personality of the original Leon but it wasn't dark or destructive or hateful.

Leon experienced dark memories before but this is the least damaging despite the known animosity. It is as if Leon was merely bothered by the Prince… as if he wasn't someone worthy of being angry at. He couldn't help but feel underwhelmed. He indeed had no problem at hurting a Prince but he didn't think of it as it is the do or die situation.

Maybe the old Leon within him is fading… but it doesn't explain one last thing.

There was that journal, the one he retrieved among the original belongings of the past Leon before he flees the Academy. As he tried to read it once, it went horribly wrong and as if darkness was consuming him, Leon felt as if he must not read that diary.

In a way, it was hurtful. It made him miserable so he switched to the "Arcane Theory" that day and the rest of what happened was distracting enough for him not to think about that journal again.

He can no longer ignore it thus as he left the room he was meeting Erielle in, he headed to the campsite of the Mercenary Company he followed her and retreated to his tent.

"Leo!"

But someone called.

"Huxley?"

"Take that."

The young adventurer who is the fourth member of the team tossed something at him. Leon caught it midair and it slid loose in his hands as he caught it. Inspecting it, it was a leather belt with a distinctive looking buckle made of Iron.

"That is?" Leon asked.

"Your rank E belt. Congratulations."

An Iron Belt, that was the tradition among mercenaries to showcase their ranks. An Iron buckle means a rank E mercenary.

"The custom is that the youngest senior buys it for the junior and so on." Huxley said.

Leon smiled as it elevated his mood greatly.

"Yeah, that's thoughtful of you." Leon replied.

"Chief Vadim told us about your rank-up so we could prepare. Once we return to town, I'll treat you to some nice meal in a place I know." Titus said.

"Thanks." Leon nodded in appreciation as he valued the blessing of a good company but he didn't have the heart to tell them that he's not even considering looking backward when he leaves after this mission.

Actually, he can leave right now. He has the rank, the proof, and the means to do so. Erielle also stated that neither she nor Vadim would stop him from leaving. What kept him from doing anything about all that is the destination since he has no direction set in mind.

After thanking the team for the belt, he requested to slide into his tent and rest for the night as he is no longer in a state to even walk around properly.

Funny enough, there was no fun in what he was about to do. His tent was small so the highest he could get is to sit straight. Feeling the cushiony yet thick bedding he spread his legs on, Leon took off the thick leather boots and bracers which were that last that remained of his armor and day in his comfortable Ebonthread suit. Notably, he took out a lantern from his Storage which he then lit using a small kindling tool.

One thing led to another and here he was, opening that cursed journal for the second time.

If he felt good about it, he wouldn't have waited till nightfall but the situation demanded him to be alone and a little bit collected if possible. He was obviously the opposite at the moment but he was out for answers.

The journal was opened to the first page. It was simply a class journal where the previous Leon took notes of many things.

His handwriting was obviously way better than a certain someone and the way he put his notes around were very organized and had a lot of thoughts about these subjects and classes.

A flip after another, Leon wasn't really into what the previous him took notes of since all the academic problems written down were somewhat easy since Leon is more knowledgeable after using the [Knowledge Magic - Read] on most of the easy books he checked up.

When he reached the end of these notes, he found many blank pages with some torn out paper between the last written page and the blank ones meaning that something was removed by someone.

But here's the thing… The first date on these notes pre-dates the application to the Royal Academy if Leon's memories served him right.

"So it is like Leon received some lessons before entering the Academy… this note can't be this recent… which also means…"

Leon flipped the notebook and turned it upside down to read from the back.

And here it was… darkness… hate… abhorrence.

The rotten thing started crawling out of his heart and spreading all over his chest like a burning pain… and it started gripping as everything in the world became colder, even the flame of the lantern… especially the flame of the lantern.

" … Why?" Leon started reading.

[Why are you doing this to me? Can't you leave me be *unreadable part* for some many years. I tried everything… I just want to give up on you as you did on me… he will show up… hurt me… the bad man… I can't…]

A lot of scratches and ink overflow made many parts unreadable but Leon with his mind could just fill the blanks.

[… the bad man came to me… who do you think you are to do what you like with me… You are not my Father…]

The words felt heavy… somewhat relatable but a different kind of suffering. There was no peace this note brought to Leon. It was all the rotten hatred inside him just swelling the more pages he read.

[… But they were always *unreadable part* … I hate it here… even the servants… everything… the air… the eyes… the voices… they told me things about those people… nasty things… I can't even begin to imagine how it ends… but that voice in particular… the voice of the many-headed tree… it told me something… it was good… I will see you once again… then he laughed and said… after I die… I am sorry, mother… looks like I have to die.]

Coldness felt like a hand and it was dark. It gripped Leon from his heart as he continued reading. This cold dark hand felt like it started multiplying. One grabbed his leg, one grabbed his hands, one appeared from his shirt collar grabbing his neck, a few appeared around his head coming from deep within. They all started grabbing him as if they were swallowing him down to the abyss and they covered every inch of him as he didn't stop reading with his eyes only the last thing visible from him.

And the light went out.

It was dark, cold, and quiet. Silent as death.

And the light came back.

It leaked through the loose part of his tent as the sun rays brightened over his body.

He was almost lifeless but as the sun gradually rose and the ray started to adjust itself to reach the sensitive side of his face.

Feelings of discomfort caused his flawless pale skin to a reactionary twitch.

And he opened his eyes… and they were all black to even their white as if he was looking back from the Abyss itself.

But the blackness immediately receded and his eyes turned back normal.

Shocked, Leon sprung up from his sleep and immediately turned the other way as vomit started to come out.

But that wasn't vomit.

It was just black… black mess and goo mixed with… fingernails.

"Leo! Leo!"

Yet all of a sudden, a hand tore away the cover of his tent and a man lowered his posture to look in. Sunlight rushed in and its holiness chased away the coldness, darkness, and quietness inside the tent as if it all was instantly cleansed.

"Fuh… Fuck!" Leon struggled as he covered his eyes like someone who hasn't seen the sun in ages.

"Sorry, but get geared up in 10 minutes." Titus slammed the ground twice to alert Leon, "A new assignment just came."

"What is it?"

"A student went missing. A girl."

Leon didn't seem to care as he continued to slowly push his body out.

"Fucking hell!"

Feeling like shit, smelling like shit, and definitely looking like shit with his swollen face and tired eyes; Leon nodded and shooed away Titus.

"I'll be ready."

Titus patted his shoulder a bit too strong and left away. Leon immediately looked serious and turned around to his tent to inspect the mess he left behind.

Black vomit and fingernails… it was not there anymore. What was there was just some tiny spot of a white slimy liquid that had a very faint trace of what seemed to be smoke rising from it.

"Read!"

Immediately, Leon used the Read spell before the whole thing dissolved and the answer came immediately.

——————————

[Ectoplasm]

——————————

"… Did I smoke the wrong herb yesterday?"