Worry
Leon scratched his chin as he peered into Baekyeon's eyes, still wet with unshed tears.
So what exactly can you do?
He asked with a note of genuine expectation.
The fact that she could use mind-speech at all was already proof enough of her abilities. And when he had first laid eyes on her, the way her gaze had pierced straight through the veil to meet his own — that had been no illusion either.
Sensing that his face looked more indifferent than he felt, Baekyeon hurriedly poured out her thoughts.
I-I can definitely be of use. Divine beast blood runs through my body, and Mother taught me shamanic arts for a very long time. In other words, I can use the powers of both a divine beast and a shaman.
Hmm.
That much was true. Simply being a disciple of her mother — a Great Shaman of the highest order — would have made her exceptional. Adding the power of a divine beast on top of that only raised the stakes further.
From something as small as mind-reading all the way up to foresight of the future. I've mastered every technique of Taehye Shinnyeo through the Fifty-Seven River Spell, opened the vision of the White Deer Eyes, and I retain a portion of the spiritual power of the Upper Heavens…
Stop. Stop.
Leon cut off Baekyeon's increasingly long-winded explanation. Listing all that out meant nothing to him if he didn't understand half of it.
He asked a clarifying question instead.
Anyway, right now you can't fully use any of those shamanic arts, can you? You said you lost your power earlier.
That… is true. But! If you just give me a little time, I can recover completely. I simply haven't been able to use my spiritual power because the conditions weren't right. Now that I have a stable environment, three months at most. Two, if things go well. And of course, I can still help however I can even before then.
Mm.
And also!
Baekyeon's intent rang out loud and clear through his mind.
I can even teach you how to handle the spiritual power you absorbed from the Hwasinjo.
…Oh.
Leon's eyes widened at the unexpected offer.
Not bad at all.
Everything Baekyeon had listed was an outstanding set of merits with no real downside. And recovering her power wouldn't take years — just a matter of months.
Besides, he had almost no reason to refuse a girl so determined to repay her debt of gratitude. Even if he didn't fully trust her yet, keeping her close and watching her was the sensible move.
But…
One thing still nagged at him.
So, Baekyeon. Exactly how old are you?
My age…?
Baekyeon carefully whispered a number, and Leon's expression went blank with disbelief.
…She's older than me?
Well, that settled it. She really was just a child on the outside.
Leon broke into a grin.
Looking forward to working with you.
…! Yes!
Sometime later.
After leaving the rescued children in the care of the Crusif villa and sharing a simple breakfast with the Duke and Duchess, Leon and Baekyeon were on their way back to the Asonia estate.
Wow…
Waves of awe kept flowing from Baekyeon as she looked every which way.
Since mind-speech only worked through physical contact, the two of them walked hand in hand just as they had the day before.
So this is the Empire… Even the innermost sanctums of the Seven Kings would feel like a playground compared to this.
She seemed thoroughly stunned by the capital's otherworldly splendor. Yesterday she had been too shaken to take anything in, but now that she had calmed down, the scenery around her was finally registering.
Hah — then Young Master is a young lord of this Empire?
Baekyeon turned to look at Leon, freshly astonished all over again.
I-I'll work hard…!
She clenched her little fists and burned with determination. Leon let out a quiet laugh.
Baekyeon's form of address for him had settled firmly on "Young Master."
Originally she had wanted to call him Master, but…
— Oh my. So you're saying this woman wearing a child's skin intends to call Master "Master"? Master?
— Eek?!
— …I only came to ask for your opinion, of course. Hmm. Yes, that does seem like a bad idea.
The moment Leon saw Aria's core start spinning after hearing the explanation, he had hastily revised the plan.
I wonder if they're doing all right.
Thinking back on that moment, his thoughts drifted naturally to Aria's well-being.
Aria, Hera, and Riel would have taken a warp gate once and should be riding hard by now.
They had set out for Glenberg at dawn that very morning.
Leon had told Aria to rest at least a day before leaving, but she had refused, insisting she would finish the job quickly and come straight back.
Hera had inevitably been dragged along after signing a Blood Oath, more or less against her will. And Riel, who stuck to Hera like a shadow, had naturally gone with them.
"Man… look at that sky."
Leon suddenly tilted his head back and marveled.
A summer sky so clear it looked punched open, without a single cloud. As if the chaos of the previous night had never happened, the weather was dazzlingly, eye-achingly bright.
Walking beneath that stretch of blue, they soon found themselves before the main gates of the Asonia manor.
But near the gate, in a side alley, a familiar figure caught his eye.
She cut a thoroughly chic figure.
Her left arm was folded across her chest as if cradling it. Her right arm was raised at a lazy angle, a smoldering cigarette dangling from her slack hand.
Her back rested against the wall. One leg was bent at a crooked slant. Her gaze was empty, pointed at nothing in particular.
— Haaah…
As she exhaled a long final stream of smoke, an unmistakable weariness clung to her face.
Leon raised a hand and waved.
"Celia."
"…!"
Celia's head snapped around, her eyes going wide.
She crushed the cigarette in her fingers and stammered.
"No, you — wait, Leon—"
"Use your words."
Celia closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, opened them again, and spoke in a completely flat tone.
"Why are you only getting here now."
"Ah. We stopped by my family's villa for breakfast."
"…That's not what I mean. Where did you sleep, then. Where did you spend the night."
"? I told you yesterday I was going to a nearby hotel."
"What? No you didn't."
"What are you talking about. I did."
Celia glared at him with narrowed eyes.
"No. You. Didn't."
"…??"
Leon frowned.
The night before, he had given Ceren a heads-up that he would be coming back the next day. He was a guest staying at the Asonia estate, after all.
And he had trusted that Ceren would pass the word along to the rest of the group.
But Ceren, for her part, had assumed Leon would naturally contact the others himself and hadn't said a thing.
In short, the whole misunderstanding had sprung from Leon's careless approach to communication.
"…"
Leon sharpened his gaze and studied Celia's face more carefully. Her cheeks were faintly gaunt, her eyes hollow. A light layer of makeup failed to fully hide the dark circles beneath them.
She really didn't hear, huh.
She must have been worried sick. After the chaos he had caused yesterday, vanishing without a word for the entire night would do that to anyone.
Making excuses here would be unmanly. Leon apologized without delay.
"Sorry."
"Haaah. Forget it."
"Next time I'll contact you directly. Straight away."
"…"
Celia's gaze softened a fraction.
Only then did her eyes fall on Baekyeon, who was still clinging tightly to Leon's hand.
"Huh? Who's this kid?"
Y-Young Master.
Apparently frightened of Celia, Baekyeon ducked behind Leon's back. To be fair, the aura of a woman chain-smoking in an alley was pretty intimidating.
Celia watched Baekyeon behave like a terrified baby animal and only grew more delighted.
"Wow, what is this? She's adorable. Come here to big sister."
Uuuuuh… That unnie is scary…
"Strange. Is she just really shy? Why's she hiding? Hey, I said come over here."
"…Let's go inside and talk."
A little while later.
After lunch, as Leon was heading toward the training grounds, Esabel approached him with her attendants in tow.
"…Leon Crusif. Receive the will of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor."
"…"
Whatever Leon had been about to say died on his lips. He quietly dropped to one knee.
Esabel put on a deliberately solemn expression and unfurled the imperial decree.
"We hereby express Our deep gratitude for the efforts expended in responding to the unforeseen incident that occurred yesterday in Districts Three and Four."
"…"
"We are fully cognizant of the labors Your Lordship has devoted thus far to the peace of the Empire and the well-being of Our subjects. Commendation for these services shall be rendered all at once in due course."
In short: the rewards would be lumped together and handed over later. A brief message.
"That is all."
"I receive His Majesty's will."
Leon raised his head and stood. Then he looked Esabel in the face and said,
"Why did Her Highness come in person. Running errands?"
"That's right."
Esabel agreed readily, then snapped at him.
"Hey. How do you manage to cause an incident every single day?"
"Pardon?"
Leon's mouth fell open at her harsh words.
"H-how could you say something so cruel. An incident? An incident? This is a time when praise alone wouldn't be enough, and you call it an incident? An iiiinciideeent?"
He started twitching, eyes rolling wildly.
"…!"
Esabel recoiled in alarm.
This bastard Leon was in a weird state today. Best not to poke the bear. She hastily apologized.
"Sorry. I'm sorry. That was a slip of the tongue."
"Yes."
Looking slightly awkward, Esabel added,
"Of course you did something worth praising, but… I just meant you should take better care of yourself."
"Ah. Is that so."
"Yeah. You're always throwing yourself into dangerous situations."
"…"
Leon stared at her blankly, then spoke with a mischievous glint.
"Good heavens. Are you worrying about me right now?"
"…Shut up."
"My heart is swelling. I'm deeply moved."
"…"
Esabel averted her eyes and pressed her lips tightly shut.
That afternoon, in the high-grade training grounds of the Imperial Capital Pavilion.
Ceren and Leon stood facing each other.
Gathered around them to watch were Esabel, Celia, Carotin, and Liana.
Leon spoke to Ceren.
"I've been putting the sword you lent me to good use. Cut down that bastard with it yesterday, too."
"…Good."
Ceren was too busy studying Leon to give more than her usual clipped reply — shorter than usual, even.
It was astonishing.
Expert, upper rank.
Had he gained enlightenment from yesterday's battle? The man truly changed by the day.
And more than that…
Leon's presence itself had shifted into something unsettling.
An oppressive yet lofty aura gently blanketed the space around him.
His existence felt far greater than what the eye could see. There was a dignity to him, a majesty that defied easy description.
…
Ceren could recall feeling a similar atmosphere only once before.
When she had stood before the Empire's Greatest Sword — a being who had reached the supreme ranks.
Shhk—
Leon raised the tip of his blade. Even that trivial motion felt completely different from before.
"Shall we begin?"
"…"
Ceren simply nodded without a word.