Summary:
As bounty hunters attack Leo's bookstore, Elyna fights them off with explosive magic. Selene and Tessia join the battle, revealing their true strength.
Leo, who has refused to fight since his reincarnation, finally makes a choice — **he will not run anymore**.
He uses his power not to destroy, but to protect.
And in doing so, he proves that even a former villain can choose peace — while still standing his ground.
---
Smoke filled the air.
Flames danced along the edges of the alley.
And I sat behind the counter of my little bookstore, watching as chaos unfolded outside.
Elyna was already in the middle of the fight, her hands glowing with unstable magical energy.
"Sorry," she said with a grin, tossing another fireball at one of the attackers. "But you guys really picked the wrong baby to threaten."
The masked mage barely dodged in time before the explosion shattered the cobblestones beneath him.
I watched carefully.
They weren't just random bounty hunters.
Their formations were too precise. Their magic too refined.
> These were trained killers.
And they had come for me.
---
The Fire That Protects
One of the mages broke through the smoke and lunged toward the door.
Before he could take another step—
**SWISH.**
A blade cut through the air.
Tessia blocked his path with a single motion, her sword gleaming under the moonlight.
She didn't say a word.
Just stared at him.
Then slashed.
Blood splattered.
The man fell.
Elyna whistled.
"Still scary as ever, huh?"
Tessia didn't respond. She only stepped back to guard the entrance again.
From my spot, I wrote quickly on my notepad:
> "Don't kill unless necessary."
Tessia glanced at me.
Then nodded.
---
The Watcher Joins the Fight
Selene arrived next.
Not from our side.
But from the enemy.
She landed gracefully in front of the remaining attackers, her bow drawn.
"I told you," she said coldly, "this mission is over."
The leader of the group narrowed his eyes.
"You're betraying the Church?"
Selene didn't flinch.
"No. I'm choosing what kind of justice I serve."
Then she turned to me.
"I'll hold them off. Get ready to move."
I looked up at her.
And for the first time, I saw something different in her gaze.
> Understanding.
Respect.
And maybe… trust.
---
My Choice
As the battle raged on, I felt it.
A familiar warmth in my chest.
The remnants of the power I once wielded — buried deep within this fragile body.
I had sworn never to use it again.
But now, I realized something:
> Peace isn't about running away.
It's about choosing when to stand.
So I raised my tiny hand.
Magic surged.
Not violent. Not destructive.
But strong enough to send a shockwave through the street.
Everyone froze.
The attackers stumbled back.
Even Elyna blinked.
"What the heck was that?!"
I pointed at myself.
Then slowly, I wrote:
> **"I won't hurt you. But I won't let you harm what's mine."**
The leader of the bounty hunters spat on the ground.
"This isn't over, Dark Lord."
I met his gaze.
Then gave him a small, calm smile.
> "I know."
But this time…
> I wasn't afraid.
---