Leo spent every spare moment he had over the next three days engrossed in his book, often losing track of time as he pored over its pages late into the night and during every break he could find.

In summary, chapter one was an introduction to blood fiends. Leo learned about how they were created and the changes in their bodies, such as increased physical power and enhanced mana. The next section explained that while most blood fiends retained human-like forms, some rare cases saw them evolving into grotesque monstrosities with drastically different appearances. Like vampires, blood fiends were servants of the goddess of the moon, bound to her will and power.

The following chapter delved into the history of the first vampire encounter, which occurred in the first year of the new era. It detailed how human greed for power drove individuals to beseech the goddess, who granted their wishes by transforming them into vampires. Blood fiends emerged a few years later when one of the first vampires slaughtered an entire village for blood, creating the first of these mindless creatures.

The final chapter provided methods for defeating blood fiends, emphasizing their vulnerability to Light spells and sunlight, hence their moniker, "creatures of the night." Most blood fiends were classified as E and E+ ranks, but in rare cases, they could evolve into more powerful entities. The most formidable blood fiend on record in the Magic Kingdom was a B-rank, posing a significant threat to anyone who encountered it.

Leo closed the book after reading the last page. Yesterday, he had bought a special box, enchanted like his bag, where he could store his items securely. The box also had an invisibility enchantment to prevent unnecessary attention. It had cost him 30 silver coins, but the peace of mind it provided was invaluable. He carefully placed the book inside the box alongside his other two treasured books.

Today was Friday, and Leo had to work every day of the week now. The morning sun was already peeking through the window, indicating the start of another busy day. Over the past three days, Leo had slept far less than usual, engrossed in his studies, resulting in frequent yawns. Despite his fatigue, he stuck to his routine. After his morning jog and a refreshing bath, he ate a quick breakfast and prepared to leave for work. His mother, Lisa, noticed the dark circles under his eyes but chose not to mention it, respecting his determination. She accompanied him to the door.

As they opened the door, Rorin stood there, his usual relaxed demeanor evident. “Oh, Leo, you're off to work now too?” he asked with a slight smile.

Leo, too exhausted to show any emotion, simply replied, “Good morning, Mr. Rorin. I always go to work at this hour.”

From behind him, Lisa echoed the greeting, “Good morning, Mr. Rorin.”

Rorin’s eyes flickered between Leo's weary expression and Lisa’s concerned face. He gave her a reassuring smile and discreetly signaled with an OK sign, indicating that he'd have a word with Leo. Lisa, though still worried, returned the smile, feeling slightly relieved.

After walking in silence for a few minutes, Rorin finally spoke. “You look tired.”

“It was a special circumstance,” Leo answered, his voice betraying his exhaustion.

“If you’ve got it under control, that’s fine. But what are these special circumstances?” Rorin gently pressed.

“It’s personal,” Leo responded, trying to dodge the question.

They continued walking for a few more moments before Rorin glanced sideways at him, a teasing grin spreading across his face. “Did you get yourself a girlfriend?”

Leo rolled his eyes. “No.”

The rest of the walk passed quietly. When they arrived at the association, they headed to the storage room to change. Just as they were leaving, Peter stopped Leo.

“Hold on a second, Leo. I’ve got something to tell you.”

Rorin kept walking, tossing a casual “See you at the training ground” over his shoulder.

Leo turned his attention back to Peter. “What is it, Mr. Peter?”

Peter studied Leo’s face for a moment. “You look like the walking dead.”

Leo didn’t respond, his exhaustion evident in his slouched posture and dark circles under his eyes.

Peter sighed. “Tomorrow, you’re heading out on a mission.”

The news instantly snapped Leo out of his fatigue. “A mission?”

“Yeah, it’s a six-day mission,” Peter confirmed.

Leo’s eyes widened, but he quickly regained his composure. ‘I’ve got the meeting in two days,’ he thought, anxiety creeping in.

“What’s the mission?” Leo asked, trying to hide his growing concern.

Peter took a piece of paper from his pocket, glanced at it, and then answered, “You’re going with Liamond and Wina, along with another Paladin group. The leader of the group is Captain Cirnath Tahroman, and the mission is to transport an item to the city of Niver.”

Leo put his hand under his chin, deep in thought. “Niver? I read about it; it’s the next biggest city in the kingdom after the capital, right?”

“Yes,” Peter confirmed. “It’s near a mountain, and there’s a big church at the edge of the mountain. It’s three times bigger than our central church, and it’s the home of Bishop Zelis, an A4 priest.” There was a note of admiration in Peter's voice. “Come back later, after your patrol, I’ll give you more details and some items”

“Ok, then, I’ll see you later.”

Leo headed to the training ground. Despite his evident fatigue, Rorin didn’t go easy on him, and by the end of the session, Leo could barely walk. After his time in the library, he went to the kitchen to grab lunch and some much-needed coffee. As he entered, he ran into Liamond and Albert.

“Hello,” Leo greeted them as he entered the room.

“Hi,” Liamond responded, still eating his lunch without looking up.

Leo was about to head to the kitchen when Albert stopped him. “I will make you an egg with sausage. Go sit down.”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“I can make it myself,” Leo protested, feeling too drained to argue much.

Albert cut him off, his voice firm. “You look like you’re about to pass out. Sit down.”

Leo nodded, too tired to resist, and sank into a chair. As soon as he closed his eyes for a moment, everything faded to black. He was startled awake some time later by the sound of a plate being placed in front of him. He blinked and saw three baked eggs, a sausage, and some vegetables, including broccoli, arranged neatly on the plate.

“Thank you,” Leo mumbled, staring at the meal.

“What’s wrong? You don’t like it?” Albert asked, noticing Leo’s hesitation.

“No, it’s not that,” Leo replied, sounding anxious. “It’s just... a lot.”

“You’re exhausted; you need food. Now eat,” Albert insisted, his tone leaving no room for debate. He sounded almost like an older brother looking out for Leo.

Albert sat down across from Leo, with Liamond beside him.

“What happened to you?” Liamond asked, glancing at Leo.

“Nothing. I just need more sleep,” Leo said, trying to brush off their concern.

“Clearly,” Albert muttered, the worry still evident in his voice.

“You better get a good sleep tonight,” Liamond added, leaning back in his chair. “I don’t know if Peter told you, but we’ve got a mission tomorrow.”

“Yeah, he told me,” Leo replied, trying to stifle a yawn.

After finishing his lunch, Leo stood and stretched, still feeling the weight of his exhaustion. He made his way over to the coffee maker, the scent of freshly brewed coffee offering a brief but welcome sense of relief. He poured himself a cup, watching the steam rise as he cradled the warm mug in his hands.

Liamond and Albert had already left, their voices echoing down the hallway as they headed back to their duties.

Leo settled onto the couch, sipping his coffee in silence. His thoughts were still tangled up in the information he had read in the book.

‘It looks like I won’t be able to read the other two books for a while, and I also need to contact Mr. Sage,’ he mused, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach.

The idea of performing the spell he had never done before made him nervous. Fortunately, he already had good control over his mana, which offered some comfort. After finishing his coffee, he headed to the library for his class with Lavi. To his surprise, Lavi was already there, flipping through a book. Leo pulled out his watch and checked the time, wondering if he had blacked out in the kitchen.

"Why do you look so surprised?" Lavi asked, noticing Leo’s expression.

"Well, it’s the first time you’ve arrived earlier than the scheduled class time, and it’s the second time you’ve been on time,” Leo said, shaking his head in disbelief.

“I’m not that much of a procrastinator,” Lavi said defensively, then turned to Samuel, who was seated nearby with his nose buried in a book. “Am I?”

“You sure are,” Samuel replied, not bothering to look up from his book.

“Come sit down; let's continue our class," Lavi said, deftly changing the subject.

“You’ve already mastered the False Aura spell. Today, we’ll focus on reviewing all your learnings, and then you can learn about ‘Fear’ after you return from your mission.”

“How do you know I have a mission?” Leo asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m your teacher; Peter told me,” Lavi replied with a shrug.

Lavi pulled out a few papers and quickly sketched a spell on one of them. He handed them to Leo, who studied the intricate patterns and symbols with interest.

“Run through all the spells you know to ensure you've mastered them,” Lavi instructed.

Leo nodded and began practicing under Lavi’s watchful eye. The session was intense but productive, with each spell feeling smoother, more natural with each repetition. After class, Leo headed out for his patrol duty. Despite his sleepiness, he stayed alert, knowing how vital his role was.

When his patrol ended, he made his way to Peter as instructed.

“Mr. Peter, my patrol is over,” Leo reported.

“Oh good, I was just finishing up,” Peter said, glancing up from his desk.

He placed two scrolls on the table in front of him. “These are the items you’ll need for tomorrow. One of them is a teleport scroll like the one you used before, and the other is a call scroll connected to Captain Tahroman. You can use it in emergencies.”

Leo took the scrolls and carefully placed them in his bag.

“You need to be here at eight sharp. I suggest you come a bit earlier to get ready. And make sure you get a good night’s sleep; as a Paladin under Captain Edmond, showing up sleepy could affect his reputation as well.”

Leo nodded, understanding the gravity of Peter’s words. “Okay, I’ll be here on time,” he promised.

“If that's all, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Leo said.

“See you,” Peter replied, returning to his work.

Leo made his way out of the association and headed home. Once there, he greeted his family and ensured that no one would disturb him. He then retreated to his room, feeling the weight of the day’s fatigue pressing down on him. He unfolded the paper containing the spell for contacting Mr. Sage, studying it intently and committing every intricate detail to memory. He then took another piece of paper and carefully replicated the spell on it, ensuring he got every symbol and line correct.

With everything ready, Leo closed his eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on controlling his mana. He felt the familiar tingle of energy coursing through him and, when he was certain he was prepared, he took a moment, then carefully placed his hand on the spell and activated it. He concentrated hard, ensuring his mana flowed smoothly into the spell without overwhelming it. After a second, the spell began to glow with a soft, eerie light.

“Leader of the dark meeting, I call to you," Leo intoned, his voice steady. He waited a few seconds before continuing. “Mr. Sage, I cannot attend the next meeting.” As he spoke the final words, the spell ended, and the glow faded away.

Leo stood there, waiting in silence, his nerves fraying with each passing second. He was beginning to doubt whether the spell had worked when suddenly, the back of his hand began to burn, and a voice resonated directly in his mind.

“Your request has been heard.”

Leo exhaled a deep sigh of relief. The tension that had gripped him dissipated, and he felt a sense of calm wash over him. He then stood up, feeling a bit lighter, and made his way to the kitchen.

While heading to the kitchen, another thought began to hunt him. “How does Mr. Sage hear my voice? Is it my own voice or my voice in the secret meeting?”

Realizing he couldn’t do anything about it and feeling too tired to dwell on it, Leo decided to push the thought aside. He joined his family for dinner, enjoying the warm atmosphere despite his exhaustion. As they finished eating, Leo helped his mother clear the table and decided to tell her about the mission.

"Mom, I have to go on a mission tomorrow," Leo said, doing his best to keep his voice calm.

His mother paused, glancing over her shoulder from where she stood at the sink, hands submerged in soapy water. "A mission?" she repeated, her brow furrowing with concern.

"Yeah, a six-day mission out of the city," Leo explained, a mix of anticipation and unease building inside him. "I won’t be home for nearly a week."

"Six days?" she echoed, clearly surprised, drying her hands on a towel now, her full attention on him. "Is it dangerous?"

Leo shrugged slightly, forcing a casual tone. "Mom, I’m a paladin. Danger comes with the job. But don’t worry, we’ll have a paladin captain leading us, so everything should be fine."

His sister, Rosie, who had been quietly sitting nearby, perked up, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Where are you going?"

"The city of Niver," Leo answered, smiling at her eagerness.

Rosie tilted her head. "Niver? Where’s that?"

"It’s the second-biggest city in the kingdom," Leo explained, a small flicker of pride in his voice as he shared the knowledge.

His mother’s worry didn’t fade completely, though her expression softened. "Just be careful, okay?" She sighed, her tone warm with the kind of care only a mother could offer. "Do you need me to pack anything for you?"

Leo shook his head. "No, I’ll be fine. I just have to leave for work a little earlier than usual tomorrow."

"What time?" she asked.

"Seven-thirty," Leo replied.

"Alright, I’ll make you breakfast before you go," she offered, her voice gentle, reassuring.

"Thanks, Mom," Leo said, yawning "I think I’m going to head to bed now. I’m exhausted."

“Good night, sweetie,” she called softly as he made his way toward the door.

“Good night, Leo.”

Leo smiled at both of them and replied, “Good night.”

He headed straight to his room, feeling the day’s events catching up with him. Before crawling into bed, he made sure to pack the Dwarf language book into his bag, thinking it might be good to have something to study during any downtime. Finally, Leo sank into his bed, the familiar comfort of home wrapping around him, and within minutes, exhaustion overtook him, pulling him into a deep, dream-filled sleep as thoughts of the mission swirled in his mind.