Leo awoke the next morning and prepared for his morning workout. He stretched first, then picked up his bracelets and put them on before leaving the house for his thirty-minute run.

'All right, time to activate the weights.'

He activated the bracelets by placing his hand on them. His weight was increased by forty pounds. Sweat began to drip from his forehead, and his breathing became more labored.

‘This is going to be fun’ he thought mockingly.

He began running with forty pounds more weight. He wanted to give up with each step he took. After thirty minutes, he vomited near the water stream in front of his house. fortunately, the street was sparsely populated at this hour of the morning. He then went inside after cleaning his face. Despite the fact that he awoke ten minutes early this morning, his mother was awake. He took out his watch to check the time.

Leo glanced at the clock. ‘8:30 already? I guess I was too slow,’ he thought.

“Good morning, Mom,” he greeted as he entered the kitchen.

“Morning, dear. You’re up early; what were you doing?” his mother asked, glancing up from her cooking.

“Just some morning exercises,” Leo replied, stretching his arms.

“Breakfast is ready whenever you are,” she said with a smile.

“I’ll grab a quick shower first,” Leo said, heading back to his room.

After a brisk shower and changing into fresh clothes, he returned to the kitchen to find his mother setting the table.

“What time does Rosie need to be at school?” he asked as he sat down.

“She starts at 10,” his mother replied, serving him roasted eggs and vegetables, their savory aroma filling the room.

‘10 o’clock? At least in this world, they let kids sleep in,’ Leo mused with a small smile.

He finished his breakfast quickly, savoring every bite. “Thanks for the meal, Mom. It was delicious as always.”

“You’re welcome, sweetie. Have a good day at work,” she said warmly.

Leo put on his coat and waved goodbye before heading out the door, ready for the day ahead.

…

Arkarr was sitting on the ground in the dungeon beneath the church. His hands were bound with a magical cord, preventing him from performing any magic. The Paladin captain burned out his eyes.

'That jerk, someday I'll get out of here and get my revenge.'

A sinister grin spread across his face as he reveled in his dark thoughts.

‘I’ll start with that boy’s family. Tie him up, make him watch, then… it’ll be his turn,’ he mused, a twisted chuckle escaping his lips.

Suddenly, a voice interrupted his macabre fantasy.

“Seems like you’re quite enjoying yourself,” a woman’s voice remarked, cool and detached.

“Who’s there?” he demanded, spinning around.

“You may not see me, but surely you recognize my voice,” she chided him, her tone otherworldly.

Arkarr knew only one person with such an ethereal voice. His smile widened.

“My apologies, my lady. Have you come to rescue your unworthy servant?” he asked.

“Silence,” she commanded, her presence commanding even without sight.

Arkarr shut his mouth. Despite the absence of sound, he sensed her chilling presence lurking nearby.

"Do you really think a useless creature like you deserves saving?"

Sweat began to drip from Akarr's brow. "Then why are you here?"

Only silence enveloped the room, amplifying Arkarr's expression of fear etched across his face.

"Please, my lady, I can still be useful; just give me another chance, and I will… "

A hand grabbed his neck.

"Augh…"

A shiver began to run down his spine. He wanted to scream, but his body didn’t work. His thoughts gradually calmed down until he no longer had the ability to think.

…

Leo stood there, trying to catch his breath.

“You’re late; that’s a first!”

“I’m sorry, coach,” Leo apologized.

“I’ll let this one slide because of what happened last night. I understand that at your age, events like that can make sleeping difficult.”

Leo blinked in confusion. ‘Does she think I was too scared to sleep last night, and that’s why I’m late?’ he wondered.

Deciding to play along, he responded, “Thank you.”

“Alright, get started fast. You’re already behind, and there’s a lot of exercises to catch up on,” she instructed, her tone firm.

Leo had already removed his own bracelets while changing his clothes. He activated the two 10-pound bracelets and began his workout. He almost vomited again after he finished.

"That's enough for today, Get some rest."

Leo nodded and returned to the storage area. He took a shower and changed his clothes, but he didn't activate the bracelets because he was too tired and it was only the first day, Also He didn't want his work clothes to smell like sweat either.

He began his day in the library as usual, slipping into the familiar rhythm of his tasks. Around an hour later, Lara showed up unexpectedly, her footsteps soft but purposeful. Nearby, Samuel was already focused on his work, his desk piled with open books amidst the quiet hum of the library.

"Lara, what brings you here?"

Lara fixed her gaze on Leo.

"Leo, captain is waiting for you in his office."

"I'll go right now."

Leo set down his cleaning supplies, washed his hands, and entered the main hall. He knocks twice before opening the door to Edmond's office.

"Come in." said a familiar sound from Inside.

Leo opened the door and went inside; there were three more people there besides Edmond. Leo recognized two of them: Frank and Albert. He ignored the other person and proceeded to them.

"Mr. Albert, Mr. Frank, you are back!?"

"Leo" Albert approached and placed his hand on Leo's shoulder.

"Sorry, it was my job to protect you, but I got ambushed like an idiot."

"No, I apologize, Because of me, you and Mr. Frank got hurt.”

Frank grinned. "This is our job, Leo; don't worry about it."

"Soon you are going to become a real Paladin, and then you will get hurt too." Albert went on to say.

"Ahem… Are you finished with your greeting?"

All three turned around, immediately clenching their fists against their chests.

“Sorry, Captain,” they responded in unison.

Edmond gave a nod of acknowledgment before turning to Leo.

“Leo, this is Mr. Lavi Han. He’s an investigator from the church, and he’s here to get your report from yesterday.”

Leo shifted his attention to Lavi, who stood tall with black hair and piercing yellow eyes that seemed to see through everything.

Stepping forward, Leo extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

Lavi met his gesture with a handshake. “Likewise, Mr. Mantine.”

Knock, knock, knock.

"What is it?"

Lara walked in after opening the door.

"Captain, someone from the church is here and want to see you."

Edmond glanced at Lavi, hoping for some insight, but found him equally perplexed. Exiting the room, they encountered a short man, visibly out of breath.

"Erik, what are you doing here?" Lavi inquired, his tone sharp with concern.

"Sir, you have to come to the dungeons fast," Erik urged, his voice trembling slightly.

"Why? What happened?" Edmond asked, a note of tension creeping into his voice.

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"The necromancer from yesterday has been murdered," Erik revealed, his words cutting through the air.

"What?!" Lavi exclaimed, shock flooding his face.

Everyone in the room froze, stunned by the revelation.

"How is this even possible? He was imprisoned in the church," Lavi said, disbelief filling his voice.

Edmond inhaled deeply, his expression darkening as the weight of the situation settled in.

"Mr. Han, get a report from Leo," Edmond ordered with a firm resolve. "Lara, call Faleria here, and Erik, summon Bishop Oryu."

"Bishop Oryu?!" Erik and Lavi both blurted out simultaneously, their disbelief mirrored in their widened eyes.

"Someone was able to murder in the church’s dungeon; either we have a traitor or there is someone in this town with a rank higher than A. If my second guess is correct, the entire city is in danger."

Erik gave a firm nod, then pivoted on his heel and sprinted away. Edmond met Lavi’s questioning look with a decisive nod.

“You can use the great hall for your investigation,” he stated.

Moments later, Lara arrived, escorting Faleria.

“Edmond, what’s so urgent that you needed me?” Faleria asked.

“I wouldn’t summon you without good reason. Come, we must hurry,” Edmond urged.

“To where?” Lara pressed as they started moving.

“The dungeons. I’ll explain everything on the way,” Edmond promised, his voice grave with the weight of unsaid words.

…

Edmond, Faleria, and an agent were making their way into the dungeons.

"So you are saying that a rank S is in this town?"

"I'm hoping that there is a traitor among us; if it really is an S-rank enemy in this town, not even Bishop Oryu can stop the disaster that's coming."

"Here we are, sir," the agent directing them said.

He opened the door to the dungeons; it was a big, rusty door with the god of light’s mark on it. A long staircase led down behind the door. They arrived at a door similar to the previous one after descending many stairs. They went inside after the agent opened this door.

"You have to go without me, sir; I don't have permission to continue."

"I know, thank you."

When Edmond and Faleria started to walk, the only sound that could be heard was the sound of their steps. Every ten meters, there was a torch with golden flames, illuminating this dark place. After a while, they reached the entrance to Arkarr’s prison. Edmond placed his hand against it, murmuring something quietly. The door responded, creaking open. He then turned to face Faleria.

“Prepare for anything.”

As they entered and made their way toward the prison, a chill permeated the air, their breaths visible as puffs of steam against the cold.

“Edmond,” a voice called out, tinged with apprehension.

“I’m aware. A malevolent presence has passed through here,” Edmond replied, his senses alert.

The torches flickered weakly, struggling against an unseen force.

Apprehension etched their features as they arrived at the prison’s threshold.

“How could anything cause such disturbance?” the question hung heavy in the air.

Edmond’s expression turned grave. “It seems my second theory holds true.”

They found Arkarr frozen in terror on the ground, his mouth agape in silent horror, a single tear track marking his cheek below shut eyes.

“We must leave this place immediately.”

But before they could act, ethereal figures materialized from the shadows, launching an assault from all sides.

“Edmond, it’s an ambush!” Faleria’s warning came as a fierce shout.

Edmond didn't have time to look back; two large golden wings emerged from his back and encircled Faleria and himself. He grabbed Faleria by the waist and accelerated towards the door. His wings protected them from the transparent figure's attacks until they were outside. Faleria jumped up and shut the door after they went out. She activated the protection sign by placing her hand on the door. She then assisted Edmond in standing up.

"Come on, I don't think that this can stop them forever."

They spun around and broke into a run, the echo of the door shattering following closely behind. Refusing to look back, they continued their sprint without hesitation. The golden flames faded away one by one. Edmond was aware that the ghosts would soon reach them. He spun around and unleashed all of his might. He was surrounded by armor and had two large golden wings. He was going to buy Faleria some time. When he opened his palm, a sword of light appeared. He drew his sword and prepared to fight when a noise suddenly came from behind them.

"Begone, foul creatures; this is a holy place."

A light appeared and devoured everything; the torches began to glow with golden light again, and the ghosts began to scream and vanish. Edmond turned around to see a man in his forties holding a beautiful staff. His staff was made of gold with a big blue crystal on the top of it. Edmond sighed with relief and bowed.

"Bishop Oryu, you saved our lives," Edmond said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.

"Hehehe, don't be so formal with your old friend, Edmond," Oryu chuckled softly. His small frame and bald head gave him a humble appearance, while his kind face radiated warmth.

Edmond let out a hearty laugh, the tension from earlier easing just a bit in the presence of the bishop.

"You have done a great job telling Erik to inform me, this is no ordinary spell; the caster is at least an A+ rank, and from what I am seeing, he or she is from the north, this ability only belongs to them."

A group of knights arrived while they were talking.

"Captain Den and his knight will purify here; we need to go."

"Don't they need assistance?, It's a very powerful spell," Faleria inquired.

"Don't worry, I cleansed most of it; they can do the rest, and I also need to contact the pope."

He pointed at the knights, and then they left.

…

After recounting his tale in full, Leo sat in silence, his thoughts swirling as Lavi busily completed the report. The sound of pen scratching against paper filled the room.

“Sir, may I pose a question?” Leo asked, his voice tentative.

Lavi didn’t lift his gaze from the stack of documents. “Go ahead,” he replied, his tone neutral.

“Who exactly is Bishop Oryu?”

That made Lavi pause. He looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. “As a paladin, you’re not familiar with Bishop Oryu?”

Leo shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Well, technically, I’m not a real paladin yet.”

Lavi exhaled, setting down his pen. "Right." He straightened in his chair before explaining.

“Bishop Oryu presides over the Church in Flesa, the city’s largest and most influential branch of the faith. He’s a powerful figure, both in the religious and political spheres. Some say his influence even rivals that of the city’s rulers. Oryu doesn’t just manage spiritual matters—he oversees key decisions that affect the region, especially those concerning the church’s involvement in military and state affairs.”

Leo leaned forward, absorbing the information. “So, he's more than just a bishop?”

“Far more,” Lavi confirmed.

“What rank is he?” Leo probed further.

Lavi pondered for a moment. “I am not sure; I think he is an A+ priest.”

‘I thought only low ranks had pluses and minuses,’ Leo mused, momentarily surprised. He nodded quietly, allowing a few minutes of silence to pass.

“There, it’s finished,” Lavi finally declared.

"Do I have to do anything else?"

“For the moment, no. Should we need further details, we’ll reach out to you.”

He stood up, put his hat on, and walked away. Leo took out his watch and checked the time; it was 2:30, so he went to the library to finish his work. Samuel, as usual, was present.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Samuel,” Leo greeted, his voice tinged with apology. “I’m late due to a lengthy discussion with a representative from the church.”

“Don't worry, I know about that.” Samuel responded without a hint of concern.

Leo set to work, methodically cleaning the tables and reordering the scattered books. His mind, however, was awash with thoughts of the church, prompting a resolve to seek answers.

“Mr. Samuel, Who is the leader of the church? ” Leo inquired, his curiosity piqued.

“The pope, naturally. he is the leader of the church,”

“Then what happened to Maverick Nightbreaker? ” Leo pressed on.

Samuel’s hand paused mid-motion, and he let out a weary sigh. “Nobody knows, One day he just vanished.”

“Vanished? You mean to say that the paragon among Paladins has just… disappeared?”

“That’s precisely it.”

Leo’s brow furrowed in confusion. “And does the pope hold any clues to his whereabouts?”

“Possibly. But even if he does, such secrets are closely guarded. Maverick’s disappearance is an event shrouded in divinity.”

“Divinity?” Leo echoed, seeking clarity.

Samuel finally looked up from his book, locking eyes with Leo. “Maverick was of rank S, grade 3.”

“Grade?” Leo’s interest deepened.

“Yes. Beyond rank S, one is distinguished by grades since no rank surpasses S.”

“Then how powerful is grade three?”

Samuel leaned forward, his voice dropping to an almost reverent whisper.

“They say an S rank—grade one—is akin to a hero destined to save worlds; at grade two, they ascend to angelic status. Can you surmise what lies at grade three?”

“A god?” Leo ventured, a sense of awe creeping into his voice.

“Not quite; they’re termed demigods—beings capable of laying waste to armies with but a flicker of their intent.”

The thought of such power made Leo shudder.

“And what lies beyond? What about grade four?”

“There is no grade four,” Samuel replied with an air of finality. “Beyond grade 3 are only gods, entities whose power transcends our understanding.”

“How many gods exist?”

“Countless,” Samuel said softly, “but such knowledge is beyond your reach for now.”

Leo yearned to delve deeper but was interrupted as Wina burst through the library doors.

“Samuel, Leo! Liamond has awakened!”

“Truly?” Leo’s voice trembled with anticipation.

“yes” Wina confirmed.

A radiant smile spread across Leo’s face as he turned to Samuel.

“We must go,” Samuel declared with newfound urgency.

They went out to the main hall with Wina; everyone was there, including Edmond and Faleria. Edmond turned to face Leo and Samuel.

"Shall we go?"

They all begin to follow Edmond. They entered the church through the main entrance.

Leo turned to face Peter, who was walking alongside him.

"Where is the infirmary?"

"It's part of the church; you'll notice it soon."

Leo sped up and went to Edmond while walking.

"What happened, Captain? Was everything all right in the dungeons?" Leo inquired.

"Yes, don't worry about that."

As they continued their conversation, the group approached another door connected to the church. This one was far grander than the one leading to the association, bustling with activity as people streamed in and out. After navigating through a few corridors, they finally reached a room within the infirmary. Inside, Liamond lay propped up on a bed, looking pale but alert.

“Captain? Everyone?” Liamond attempted to sit up.

Edmond stepped forward and gently pressed a hand on his shoulder. “Rest, we’re just here to visit.”

Liamond relaxed, though his face showed a mix of relief and gratitude. “Thank you.”

Frank stepped closer, his usual gruff demeanor softening. “So, how are you holding up?”

“I’m fine,” Liamond replied, managing a smile. “A few more days of rest and I’ll be back on my feet, fully restored.”

“Don’t forget, resting is also part of your training,” Faleria added, her tone lightly teasing but with an edge of seriousness.

Liamond forced a smile, though it was clear from his expression that resting wasn’t something he was fond of. “Yes, of course,” he muttered.

Leo approached the bed, feeling a surge of gratitude that he couldn’t quite put into words. Bowing slightly, he looked up at Liamond. “Mr. Liamond, thank you… for everything.”

The entire room seemed to brighten as everyone, including Liamond, smiled at the sincerity in Leo’s voice.

“Anytime, my friend,” Liamond replied, his voice warm and genuine.

As the group continued chatting and laughing, Leo quietly made his way toward Edmond. He hesitated for a moment, watching the captain speak with the others before gathering the courage to approach.

“Captain,” Leo said softly. Edmond turned, giving him his full attention. “Can I speak with you for a moment?”

Edmond nodded, his expression curious but open. “Of course. Let’s step outside.”

They exited the room, the noise of their comrades fading behind them as the door closed. Edmond looked at Leo expectantly.

“So, what’s on your mind?” he asked, leaning slightly against the wall.

Leo hesitated, unsure how to phrase his question. He finally spoke after a few seconds of silence. “Captain, when you came to save me… why didn’t you use that spell from the very beginning?”

Edmond’s eyebrows shot up, clearly caught off guard by the question.

"You have a good observation skill; the reason is that, that ability can kill anything near me under E rank in a matter of seconds."

"So you didn't use it because of me?"

"Not quite. When I was inside that circle, I used another spell to search the nearby houses for any hostages, so I don’t accidentally kill anyone; if he had any hostages inside those houses, our work would have been much more difficult."

“So, you let the others buy you time to get me out, and then you used that power?” Leo asked, piecing it together.

“Exactly,” Edmond confirmed, watching Leo closely as he processed the information.

Leo fell silent, deep in thought, replaying the events in his mind. Edmond’s strategy made sense now, but something else weighed on him. He glanced back at the captain.

“Was that all?” Edmond prompted.

Leo hesitated before shaking his head. “No, there’s something else. Yesterday, I went to a magic shop to buy a few things... but something felt off about that place.”

Edmond’s expression sharpened with interest. “What made you feel that way?”

Leo shifted uneasily. “When I was leaving the shop, the woman behind the counter... she said my name. I never told her my name.”

Edmond paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered the situation. “That’s unusual,” he finally said. “Magic shops often have their quirks, but that’s suspicious. Tomorrow, give the address of the shop to Lara. I’ll send someone to investigate.”

Leo nodded, feeling a bit relieved. “Alright. I’ll do that.”

“If there’s nothing else, let’s head back inside,” Edmond suggested, his tone signaling the conversation had come to a close.

They re-entered the room, and the rest of the afternoon passed with everyone busy chatting, laughing, and catching up on various tasks. By four o’clock, the room began to empty as one by one, people said their goodbyes and headed home. Leo lingered for a moment, watching as the warm camaraderie of the group slowly faded with the sunset, then he too made his way out, feeling a little more secure with the captain’s promise.