Elois took a deep breath, composed herself, and then sat down. She looked at Leo with a mix of determination and concern. "The Dragon Lord was an elite member of the Chronos guild, one of the strongest guilds in the human kingdom."

"If he is defeated, they will eventually ask for compensation, and you won't be able to disagree if you don't have a guild to back you up. They might even force you to join them as a replacement for the Dragon Lord."

"The Chronos Guild isn’t just powerful in terms of strength. They control the flow of resources across the kingdom and hold sway over most of the noble houses. They could cripple our guild, or worse, have the kingdom intervene. Without a proper guild to back you, Leo, they could do as they please with no consequences."

Leo stood up, his eyes widened as he absorbed her words. "So, you're saying that if I join the Silver Mane guild, I'll be safe?"

She nodded. "You can cheer up now because no one will try to avenge the Dragon Lord. He was hated by many, even within his guild. Because no system user right now is in their right mind to take on a 50-year curse just for revenge."

As they spoke, Amanda woke up and saw Talia by her side. She blinked, her vision clearing. "Talia, what happened? Where's Leo?"

Talia smiled reassuringly. "You're alright, Amanda. Leo's fine. He's with Elois and Suga in the guild master's office."

Amanda's heart raced as she got out of bed and ran towards the office. Bursting through the door, she saw Leo standing with Elois and Suga. Her eyes filled with tears as she ran towards him, throwing herself into his arms. They fell to the floor together, Amanda sobbing uncontrollably.

As she cried in his arms, Leo’s thoughts drifted. He felt the weight of the Blight creeping through his veins, subtle but persistent, like a shadow he couldn’t shake. Could he bear this curse for fifty years? Could he protect Amanda, the guild, and himself while his power slowly ebbed away?

Everyone in the room was stunned until they realized the depth of her emotions. Leo held her tightly, whispering soothing words. "Everything is fine now, Amanda. It's over."

She pulled back slightly, her eyes still wet with tears. "But... the quest reward... I need to fulfill it."

Elois stepped forward, her expression softening. "Amanda, the quest is void. The Dragon Lord was not the one who defeated the Orc Lord."

Amanda looked confused. "Then who was it?"

They all turned to Leo, anticipation in their eyes. When Amanda looked at him, she saw his awkward smile. "I'll tell you everything," he said. "But first, we need to finish the guild documents so we can be official members."

Amanda's heart swelled with emotion. Elois hugged her from behind, her voice warm and welcoming. "I can finally say it," Elois paused for effect. "No, I can now tell you both—welcome to the Silver Mane guild!"

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After completing the guild application, they headed down the stairs of the guild hall. Leo and Amanda were taken aback by what they saw. As they descended, everyone stood up and formed a semi-circle around them. One particular member moved towards the guild door, slowly closing it. He then walked back, addressing the crowd.

"Everyone in this guild is family, and that's why we all need to hear Leo's story," the member said. It was Boris, smiling as he stood tall behind the wall of guild members.

Leo smiled back, taking a deep breath as he continued down the stairs. Surrounded by the guild members, he began to tell them everything. He spoke of what happened at Ranna's farm, the battle at the Orc Dominion, and his reasons for hiding the truth from them. The room was silent, every member listening intently to his words.

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The next day, Leo received a summon request from the king.

As Leo approached the towering city castle, his mind raced with possibilities. What could the king possibly want with him? The weight of the Dragon Lord’s death hung heavy on his shoulders.

The city castle loomed ahead, like a miniature capital, the largest building in the city, fortified like a fortress. He showed his scroll to the guards, who promptly let him in. Inside, the castle was immense, with multiple pillars stretching across the vast space and a giant statue in the center. Guards were stationed throughout the area.

As he stared at the statue, a figure approached him. "That statue," she began, "is one of the first adventurers and the only one who obtained a system—Hendrickson of the Hero system."

Leo turned to see a woman in regal attire, her presence commanding yet kind. "The king will see you now," she said, leading him through the grand halls of the castle.

The woman gestured for Leo to follow her. They walked through the grand halls of the castle, the echoes of their footsteps resonating in the vast space. As they reached the end of the hall, a giant door loomed before them. She stood to the side, bowed, and gestured for Leo to continue.

The room beyond the door was almost empty, save for the king sitting on his throne and another figure standing before him. As they approached, Leo's eyes widened in recognition. "The Winter Warlock," he exclaimed.

She turned and gave a slight bow. "I prefer to be called Lady Kurea," she corrected gently. "And I must offer mine apologies for my harsh words at the Orc Dominion ruins. I misjudged thee."

Leo smiled and bowed in return. Upon reaching the front of the king, he stopped and kneeled.

The king, surprised, stood up immediately. "There's no need for that," he said. "Most system users are not bound to any king, and more precisely, do not wish to be."

"But they still need to play within the laws to avoid chaos among them. Treat this meeting as an informal one, a request from a fellow system user."

Leo's shoulders relaxed as he stood up, nodding and smiling. The atmosphere in the room seemed to lighten.

The king's eyes fell upon Ai, standing calmly beside Leo. "And who might this be?" he asked, curiosity evident in his tone.

"She's my partner," Leo replied. "Part of my system."

The king's eyebrows raised in interest, and Lady Kurea's eyes narrowed slightly, studying Ai with a newfound curiosity. The king nodded thoughtfully before sitting, looking between Ai and Leo.

The king's eyes remained fixed on Leo, his expression a mixture of fascination and concern. "It's hard to believe I am witnessing a living system user afflicted by the infamous system curse," he said, his voice filled with awe. "Blight of the Vanquished," he murmured, almost to himself, as he stared at the ominous, bloody-colored aura surrounding Leo.

The aura seemed to pulse with a life of its own, casting a chilling shadow over the room. The king's gaze lingered, mesmerized and scared in equal measure. He could almost feel the curse's power, a tangible reminder of the high stakes they all faced.

"Ahem," Lady Kurea interjected, her voice firm yet respectful.