The darkness of the night embraced the beautiful city of Uralitha. 'The Festival of Greatness' was set to begin tomorrow, and the city glowed with bright lights in remembrance of the man who altered the course of humanity. Levi had finally managed to escape the Heimen System and the sewage system above it.

Although he hadn't submerged in unpleasant substances this time, the odor clung to his body. He had to use Cleanse multiple times. Now, he felt the most exhausted he had ever felt and could fall asleep at any moment. The injuries had healed, but the pain and fatigue lingered.

It had taken him almost a day to travel in and out of the Heimen system.

"Ahh... I still need to buy mana stones before heading to my hotel," Levi complained as he looked around for the alchemy shop. The tiredness was overwhelming, and he didn't even acknowledge the fact that he had leveled up. The battles had pushed him almost to D-rank, but the confrontation with the Fleshbolds provided the remaining needed experiences. His new rank looked something like this:

=Status=

- Name: Levi

- Potential: B

- Current Rank: D-

- Profession: Archer

- Luck: G+ (Variable)

- Charm: A+ (Variable)

=Attributes=

Health: 1000/1000 (500->1000)

Mana Capacity: 1040 (520->1040)

Stamina: 600 (300->600)

Strength: 240 (120->240)

Agility: 330 (165->330)

==Skills==

- Hunter's Eye

- Snipe

- Sense

- Master of Combat (Cursed)

==Traits==

- One Focus (S rank)

==Arts==

Common Archer Style (Complete)[Locked]

Mirror Creation (D->C)

==Titles==

1) The Silkworm's Demise.

2) Demon with a hundred eyes

Every attribute of his stat had doubled. At this moment, his body should have felt more energetic than ever, but his mind had taken a toll. One thing caught Levi's eye: his luck had increased from G to G+. The lucky necklace he bought had already broken, and even wearing it hadn't had any effect on his luck.

"May this addition mean I don't get bathed in human piss anymore."

After a few minutes of searching for an alchemy shop, he found a flamboyant one right across the hotel he was staying at. Though he wondered, "Will they even let a commoner like me in?" He went there anyway. The guard at the entrance smiled, thinking Levi was a noble due to his looks. However, once he saw Levi didn't have a surname on his student ID, the guard, after checking him with some sort of mana device, asked Levi to transfer the items in the ring to another spatial space, except for the money he had.

The guard handed Levi the key to his locker and scorned, "Don't embarrass yourself in there." Even though the guard himself was a commoner, he felt superior due to his position in one of the biggest alchemy shops, not just in Uralitha but in Uran itself.

Levi didn't mind the mocking and started looking for the section for the mana stones. The assistant there initially put a smile on their faces, but once Levi's name was revealed, the girls turned from blushing to anger and disgust. They were blatantly rude, pointing at the section he needed to go to. Their double standard knew no limits nor shame. Levi didn't care as he kept walking down those confusing aisles of the store. Once he reached the place, he saw a variety of stones, not just in rank but also in species.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Levi didn't look for those and walked to the D-rank section that had the mana stones of goblins. Goblins' maximum potential was D-rank unless they evolved into hobgoblins. Once he reached there, he took out a grocery bag and started filling it up to the brim so he wouldn't have to buy it again. Also, it would take him a lot longer to reach C-rank.

Even this aisle of the shop was crowded, and Levi had to be careful not to accidentally hit someone with his elbow when filling the bags. What he thought happened - he got hit in the back quite hard. He let out a groan and was about to turn back.

"I am sorry, the crowd is huge, so my hand just moved."

Levi nodded and didn't turn back. He recognized that voice clearly, almost too much. He was about to walk away when he felt that person pulling his t-shirt.

'Don't tell me she recognized me this easily.'

Levi had no choice and turned back to see a woman with shoulder-length black hair and black eyes looking at him in shock. The crowd judged them for blocking the path, so both moved out of the way and stood aside. In a polite tone, Levi asked her, "Umm—do you need me for something?"

The girl, in anger, replied, "No, are you out of your min- no not that- I just am...sorry for bumping into you."

The girl almost broke her character when she saw Eliza. Eliza, who had traveled from the academy to her hometown, stopped at Uralitha. She needed to buy some stuff for her father as a surprise present and decided to come to the biggest shop possible.

Knowing Levi would be here, she would have never come… maybe even set the shop ablaze.

However, she was curious about why Levi was here. She didn't see him in the academy for two days, which was a blessing. She didn't think much about it, as students do tend to leave early to stay with their families. Like her, maybe he was here to get a gift for his parents. But once he peeked at his shopping bag, she knew those stones weren't for his parents.

Out of curiosity, she couldn't help but ask him, "Are you here to celebrate the festival?"

Levi smiled and replied, "Yes, the city of Uralitha is really beautiful and quite warming as well. Are you here for the same reason as well?"

Unlike Levi, Eliza couldn't smile nor even fake it. She kept a straight face and answered him, "Yes."

After that, both walked to the counter and waited in line. She hated seeing his face; that is why she never took any interest in him. But now, seeing his back as they waited in line to check out their items, she realized how lean he was. Flynn too had a similar build, but something felt different about Levi. She firsthand knew his strength, but somehow now she looked at him without any judgment; he looked quite frail, like he could fall any moment without anyone to grab onto him, him alone.

'What are you thinking, Eliza? It's Levi. He has a rotten soul. Don't feel sympathy for him.'

Once both finished checking out their items, Levi and Eliza headed out of the mall. Eliza kept staring at the bag and kept wondering why he would need so many mana stones. Levi noticed her stare and broke the ice.

'"Is it a gift for your father?"

Eliza

had bought a gold-colored pendant with the tears of a phoenix inside it. Eliza hid the bag behind her back and just nodded. Hearing Levi talk about her family didn't feel right.

'Anything I do, she hates it… maybe this is what our situation is meant to be.'

The current Levi didn't know what the past Levi said to Eliza. Though he didn't want to be friends with her, he just wanted to clear up things and sort out some stuff, not for him but for her. He had become a chain to her soul, holding her back. Levi thought this to be a good opportunity to indirectly apologize, but seeing how Eliza felt discomfort, he gave up.

Eliza's feelings were wound, and the more he tried to untangle them, the more she suffocated.

'I cannot force them to change her feelings after all… maybe just getting out of her sight would be the best.'

Levi didn't say anything after that. With a weak smile, he said, "I hope you have a good festive."

Eliza just nodded as she watched Levi cross the street and go into an inn.

"My lady, is he someone you know?"

A voice came beside Eliza. The woman wore a slick long black hat, glasses, and a fancy scarf with a long coat. She was Eliza's personal guard whenever the young Braveheart moved anywhere out from the academy on her own.

Eliza didn't answer her question and ordered her to bring out her carriage. The guard noticed an odd expression on Eliza's face that she had never seen.

Eliza still questioned why Levi said those things to her back then. She had never seen him interact with any other people, and how he acted now made him not seem as bad as she thought. Even after the battle, he never mocked her and even put his hand out, which she decided never to take, even if she was to die.

"Just what is the true you? Most times hurtful but once in a blue moon, you show a side that makes me believe the better… you must think the same of me too."