After deciding to rest for the night, Leo woke up the next morning feeling much better. His body, though sore, no longer throbbed with pain. The first thing on his mind was food—he couldn't even remember the last time he'd eaten.
Wandering through the League's halls, he searched for a place to eat. After a few minutes, he found what looked like an inn inside the League itself. Inside, adventurers were seated at wooden tables, some drinking beer, others eating hearty meals. The scent of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air.
He ordered a simple breakfast—two roasted eggs—and ate in silence. Once he finished, he made his way to the training grounds to test his enchanted clothing.
'An enchantment that increases my speed? What's the logic behind that?' Leo pondered as he walked.
Having already created two spells, he understood that magic always followed a certain logic, at least the spells he knew. An enchantment that enhanced speed had to have a reason behind it. He just had to figure it out.
When he arrived at the training grounds, he noticed a crowd gathered in the center. Curious, he moved closer to see what was happening.
"Anyone else?"
A deep voice rang out from within the group.
The crowd wasn't too dense, so Leo easily slipped through until he had a clear view of the scene. A man stood in the middle—tall, muscular, with graying hair and a face lined with wrinkles. His stance radiated confidence.
"No one?" he asked again, scanning the onlookers.
"You already defeated the best of us, Mr. Weber," someone in the crowd called out.
"Come on, fighting is the best way to gain experience," the man insisted, trying to encourage them.
"But you're a B-rank! We don't stand a chance," another voice protested.
Weber sighed. "It's not about winning—it's about the fight itself."
Leo stepped forward. "Can I fight you?"
Murmurs spread through the crowd as all eyes turned to him.
Weber's gaze studied Leo for a moment before he asked, "Young man, what is your path?"
"I'm an Illusionist and a warrior," Leo replied, omitting his enchantment abilities.
"You know this is a physical fight? No spells."
"I just want to test the enchantment on my clothe—it increases my speed. Is that okay?"
The man nodded. "That's fine. Grab a sword, and we'll begin."
Leo walked to the weapons rack at the edge of the training grounds and picked up a standard practice sword. When he returned, he noticed the crowd had grown larger.
Some of the spectators recognized him from his last visit, their expressions filled with excitement. Others, however, looked indifferent—or even irritated.
Leo stepped into position, facing the old warrior. They both took their stances.
"Come at me whenever you're ready," the man said.
Leo studied him for a moment, then charged.
A rapid exchange of blows followed, the clash of metal ringing through the air. The old warrior deflected Leo's attacks with practiced ease, barely moving his feet. Not only that, but he kept trying to disarm Leo with subtle techniques, forcing him to counter with what he had learned from Rorin and Faleria.
After analyzing his opponent, Leo took several steps back. Then, he poured his mana into his clothing, activating its enchantment.
A faint aura enveloped him, and his body instantly felt lighter. It was as if an invisible wind surrounded him, subtly guiding his movements.
'So, it's like a supporting force?'he thought, surprised. 'I assumed it would just enhance my muscles directly.'
Curious to test its power, Leo charged again.
This time, he was much faster—so fast that Weber's expression grew a little more serious.
Leo's strikes came in rapid succession, forcing Weber back step by step. Within a minute, he had unleashed a flurry of attacks. However, the speed was unfamiliar to his body. His brain struggled to process his movements, making his attacks slightly uncoordinated.
In the midst of this, Weber seized the opportunity. With a swift, precise movement, he slipped his sword under Leo's and with a single twist, disarmed him.
Leo lost his balance and hit the ground hard.
Weber approached with a grin, extending a hand.
"You fought well. Who was your teacher?"
Leo took the offered hand and stood up. "Faleria Rave," he answered without hesitation not caring about this reaching her ears.
"Faleria?" Weber repeated, rubbing his chin. "Never heard that name… Hmm."
After a brief pause, he extended his hand again. "Oh, I'm Philipp Weber, B-rank Warrior."
Leo shook his hand. "Victor Black. C-plus."
A spark of recognition crossed Weber's face. "You're the one who fought Mr. Elric a few days ago, aren't you?"
Leo smiled. "Yes."
"The second person who actually made him defend himself," Weber added, nodding approvingly. "When I'm not on a mission, I train here. You're welcome to come for a match anytime, Victor."
"Thank you. I will."
Other adventurers gathered around Leo, some with curiosity, others with admiration or friendly competition in their eyes. A few clapped him on the back, while others commented on his speed and technique.
"That enchantment was insane! Where'd you get it?" one adventurer, a black-haired woman in light armor, asked.
Leo smirked. "I bought it from a shop in white stone street."
A murmur of interest ran through the group. Another adventurer, a broad-shouldered man with a greatsword strapped to his back, whistled. "A fighter and an illusionist? That's not something you see every day."
They continued to chat, sharing stories of past battles, difficult missions, and near-death experiences while also training. One man, who introduced himself as Edgar, recounted a harrowing encounter with a pack of shadow hounds.
"I barely made it out alive," he said, shaking his head. "Damn things move like ghosts, silent and deadly. If it weren't for my party, I wouldn't be standing here."
Leo listened intently.
Another adventurer, a younger man named Elias, leaned in. "So, Victor, what's your next move?"
Leo took a sip from a waterskin someone had handed him. "Train harder. Get stronger. Maybe take on a few missions."
Elias grinned. "Good answer. Stick around—there's a lot you can learn from sparring with the right people."
Over the next few hours, Leo continued training with the group, sparring against different fighters and testing his enchanted tunic against various combat styles. However, each time he used its enchantment, it had to be refilled, limiting his exercise time. Some fought with brute strength, others relied on agility, and a few even had subtle tricks of their own.
When the sun reached its highest point, he found himself exhausted but satisfied. He had learned a lot—not just about his enchantment, but about the people who walked the same path as him.
After training, he headed to the showers with a few other adventurers. Once he had cleaned himself up, he went to eat lunch.
After finishing his meal, he made his way to the main hall to check the mission board.
The hall was filled with adventurers, each engaged in their own tasks—some chatting in groups, others checking their gear or studying maps. Ignoring the noise, he walked straight to the board and scanned the available missions.
The mission board was filled with parchment sheets, each detailing tasks of varying difficulty, ranging from E rank up to a single A rank assignment. Leo's eyes scanned the board, focusing on the D and C rank missions.
"D rank mission: Protect a cargo transport."
The description provided the destination, estimated travel time, and potential dangers along the route. His gaze drifted to the bottom of the parchment.
"Reward: 1 gold coin."
As he looked for another mission sheet, a voice spoke from behind him.
"Hello, are you looking for a group?"
Leo turned to see a young man standing there, clad in a simple silver breastplate over a dark tunic. His black hair was neatly trimmed, and his black eyes held a friendly glint. He was slightly taller than Leo, his posture relaxed but confident. He had a big shield on his back.
"A group?" Leo echoed, glancing at the man.
"I saw you at the training grounds. You're skilled in hand-to-hand combat, and that's exactly what our team needs," the man explained, extending a parchment toward Leo. "If you're looking for a team, we'd be happy to have you. We need one more member."
Leo took the paper and read it over.
"C rank mission: Eliminate the wolves terrorizing a local trade route. Reward: 8 gold coins."
"With you, we'll be four members," the young man added with a grin. "That means two gold coins each."
Leo considered the offer. The gold was a nice incentive, but it wasn't what truly interested him. It was the experience—the chance to work alongside others, building connections in the adventuring world could prove valuable in the future, whether for survival, knowledge, or simply having reliable allies when the need arose.
After a moment of thought, he nodded. "Sure, I'll join you."
The man's grin widened, and he extended his hand. "I'm Henry Moran, by the way."
Leo shook it firmly. "Victor Black."
"Great. Let me introduce you to the rest of the team."
Leo followed Henry across the guild hall to a table where two girls were seated. One had long black hair, her large dark eyes scanning a spellbook resting on her lap. She was small, almost delicate-looking, and a wooden staff leaned against the table beside her. The other girl, however, was immediately familiar.
"Emily?" Leo blinked in surprise.
The red-haired girl looked up and grinned. "Victor?"
Henry raised an eyebrow. "You two know each other?"
Emily nodded. "I was the one who looked after him while he was unconscious after his mission."
Henry nodded and gestured toward the black-haired girl. "This is Betty Turner, our support mage."
Betty glanced up from her book, giving Leo a small nod. "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
"Sit. Let me explain the mission," Henry said.
Leo pulled out a chair and sat across from him as Henry spread a worn map across the table. His finger landed on a spot slightly north of the city, deep within the forest. The parchment was marked with faded ink trails, and next to the indicated location was a scribbled note: Multiple sightings reported.
"In the past few weeks, a large pack of wolves has been seen roaming this area," Henry explained. "Based on the reports, their numbers are estimated at around twenty. Most are E-rank, meaning they're fast but not too strong individually. A few, however, are D-rank—larger, more aggressive, and with higher endurance. The real concern is their alpha. It's C-rank, which means it'll be smarter, stronger, and capable of commanding the entire pack. We'll need to be careful."
He paused for a moment, letting the information settle before continuing.
"In our formation, I'll take the front line, keeping their focus on me with my shield. Betty, our mage, will stay behind, providing support and casting spells. She's not suited for direct combat, so protecting her is a priority."
"That's my job," Emily said, crossing her arms.
"Right," Henry nodded. "But just in case, Leo, I want you to keep an eye on her too. If anything goes wrong, we need to adapt quickly."
Leo nodded. "No problem. When do we start?"
"If there are no other questions, we leave now." Henry glanced at everyone, waiting for objections. When none came, he stood. "Alright. Let's go."
The group exited the guild and began their journey north. They walked through the city streets for about ten minutes before reaching the outer edge, where the stone roads gave way to packed dirt. From there, the dense trees of the northern forest loomed ahead.
As they ventured deeper, the sounds of the city faded, replaced by the rustling of leaves and distant animal cries. The scent of damp earth mixed with the faint aroma of moss and pine.
Fifteen minutes into the forest, the first warning came.
A long, chilling howl echoed through the trees, followed by others, answering in unison. The air tensed. The underbrush rustled as shadows moved between the trees.
"They're here," Henry muttered, unsheathing his sword and raising his shield.
Betty tightened her grip on her staff, her lips already forming the beginnings of a spell.
Emily drew her daggers, shifting into a battle-ready stance.
Leo activated Moonlit Gaze, his vision sharpening. The world around him took on a hazy glow, revealing the concealed movement in the undergrowth.
He scanned the area, counting.
'One, two, three...' His brow furrowed. 'No, there are more than twenty.'
"There are around forty wolves," Leo said sharply.
Henry's eyes widened. "What? Forty? Are you sure?"
Before Leo could answer, the wolves emerged from the underbrush, their glowing eyes locked onto the group. Their fur bristled, muscles tensed as they prepared to strike.
Emily began chanting a summoning spell, while Betty adjusted her stance, raising her staff higher.
Leo didn't hesitate. He drew his sword, fire flickering to life along the blade, and tightened his grip on his shield.
The battle was about to begin.