In the pin-drop silence of the atmosphere.

Contrary to what was going on inside the minds of all the knights.

The literal chaos and shock of what they had heard yesterday.

Seraphine, while she didn't show it on the surface, was deeply embarrassed inside. She had utterly forgotten the noises created during their intimate session in the heat of last night.

The inns were luxurious.

Yes.

But they were not as well equipped as the rooms inside her mansion. More than anything, the distance between each room wasn't that great.

The knights, being awakened, could easily pick up on those sounds—especially since she remembered just how wild she had been the day before.

Ah! They must have heard everything loud and clear…

It was truly a monumental and embarrassing mistake on her part.

Leon, while not reacting much, had decided from now on to be more careful.

He chose to break the awkwardness lingering in the air and get to the point.

"Umm, Seraphine, let's go to the location where you told me the supplies I asked you to collect are. We also have a meeting with them two hours from now."

The meeting was supposed to happen at 11 a.m., and it was already 9 a.m.

Seraphine's voice was solid as she glanced at all the other knights, then finally at Leon, and responded to him.

"Let's go. We'll go on foot—the horses are much slower compared to our speed."

The knights nodded, their minds focusing on the task ahead. Yet they still needed a little time to recover from the recent revelation—that their strict commander had truly fallen for young master Leon. It had been clear from the start, through their behavior and openness, such as kissing each other without any care or regard.

Even more than that, the sacred act of becoming one made them realize that the two were now inseparable.

They knew their commander well enough, and the young master didn't seem like someone who would ever hurt her.

Though the shock remained—the noises had been far too loud and went on for far too long—the main feeling in their hearts was joy.

Because their commander had been smiling so much since she met young master Leon, and even more so after their romantic relationship began.

The way she would glance at him all the time with a sweet smile on her face was a clear testament to her rejuvenation from the cold, serious self she had once been.

It felt as if she had never been cold in the first place—and had always been like this.

"Hehe, try to follow me if you can," she teased, drifting forward with lightning dancing around her figure. Her voice rang out just afterward.

A small shockwave was created, like a gust of wind, for Leon. But not for the other knights—they had to stabilize themselves carefully so they wouldn't fall.

Leon stood still for a second, watching her beautiful figure as she effortlessly traversed the path ahead. She intentionally avoided climbing onto the roofs of the houses and instead moved swiftly through the alleyways.

A small smile tugged at the corner of Leon's lips as he watched Seraphine's retreating figure. Her playful challenge stirred something competitive within him, even though he knew this would be far too easy for him.

"Alright, I accept your challenge," he called out, his voice carrying clearly through the morning air.

In his mind, he quickly made his decision. He would use only 3 percent of his physical strength and no more than that. Even that seemed like overkill, but it would be enough to maintain the pretense of actually trying while keeping pace with her.

Leon's figure became a blur as he launched himself forward. The small shockwave that rippled outward from his starting position was much more controlled than what his full speed would produce.

Behind them, the eight knights including Kaela were left standing in stunned silence for a moment. The sudden departure of both their commander and the young master had caught them completely off guard.

"They're both gone!" one of the knights exclaimed in shock.

Kaela's eyes widened as the reality of their situation hit her. "We've been left behind!"

Desperation began to creep into their voices as they realized just how outmatched they were in terms of speed. Several knights started to panic, their breathing quickening as they looked around frantically.

"What do we do now?" another knight asked, his voice strained with worry.

But Kaela quickly regained her composure, her leadership instincts kicking in. "Stay calm! We know the location we need to reach. We can't match their speed, but we know where they're going."

The reminder helped steady the group. They might be hopelessly outpaced, but at least they weren't completely lost.

Within moments, Leon had effortlessly caught up to Seraphine, his controlled speed making it look almost casual. He appeared beside her with that same small smile, barely seeming winded.

"Is this the best the great commander can do?" he teased, matching her pace perfectly while looking completely relaxed.

Seraphine's eyes widened in surprise before narrowing with competitive fire. "You little—"

He's not even trying! This is supposed to be a race, not a casual stroll!

"Hmph!" She let out an indignant sound, lightning crackling more intensely around her body as she activated her Mana Body Enhancement. "Don't get cocky!"

I need to make this at least somewhat challenging for him. He's clearly holding back, but I won't make it that easy!

With renewed vigor, she darted forward, weaving through the narrow alleyways with increased speed. Her figure became a blur of purple hair and electric energy as she took sharp turns and sudden direction changes.

Leon chuckled, easily keeping pace. "Oh, now you're getting serious?"

"Shut up and focus on not falling behind!" Seraphine called back, taking a particularly tight corner that led them through a maze of merchant stalls.

If he wants to show off, then I'll give him something to show off about!

She deliberately chose the most complicated route—hopping over crates, sliding under hanging clotheslines, and vaulting over surprised vendors. Her competitive spirit was fully ignited now.

"You're making this too easy for me," Leon replied smoothly, effortlessly mimicking her movements. He sailed over a fruit cart with grace that made it look choreographed.

"Easy? I'll show you easy!" Seraphine shot back, her cheeks slightly flushed from both exertion and irritation.

Let's see how he handles this!

She took an even more convoluted path, leaping between building walls in the narrow spaces, intentionally making the route as challenging as possible.

Their playful banter echoed through the winding streets as they raced toward their destination.

Finally, they reached their destination outside of the city, where a humongous tent was constructed, its massive canvas walls stretching as far as the eye could see. The structure was impressive in its scale, easily capable of housing hundreds of people and vast quantities of goods. Around its perimeter, hundreds of guards stood at attention, their armor gleaming in the morning sunlight as they maintained their vigilant watch.

As both of them came to a stop in front of the entrance, Seraphine playfully sulked, her lower lip pushing out in an exaggerated pout. Her breathing was slightly elevated from the exertion, but there was a mischievous glint in her amethyst eyes.

She had tried everything during their race—taking the most convoluted routes through narrow alleyways, making sudden, sharp turns that would challenge even experienced awakeners, weaving between market stalls, and leaping over obstacles with her enhanced agility. She had even activated her Mana Body Enhancement, even her Rajin's descent, pushing her speed to levels that would leave most people as mere blurs.

My Leon only used his mana body enhancement... she also knew only because he wasn't using his full physical strength. Because what I have witnessed before was something far beyond the meager physical prowess her Leon was showing right now.

No matter what she did, no matter how complex the path she chose or how much she increased her pace, Leon had remained effortlessly by her side. He moved with such fluid grace that it seemed like he was barely trying, matching every twist and turn she made with an ease that was both impressive and slightly frustrating.

At the very end, when they approached the tent, she could tell he had deliberately slowed down just enough to let her cross an imaginary finish line first. The gesture was subtle, but she had noticed the way his movements became just a fraction less fluid in those final moments.

Despite her mock frustration, warmth bloomed deep in her chest. The way he had played along with her challenge, never once making her feel inadequate despite the apparent gap in their physical capabilities, filled her with quiet happiness. He could have easily left her behind, could have made her feel foolish for even attempting to race him, but instead, he had turned it into a playful game between lovers.

"Next time I'm really going to win," she declared with playful determination, pointing a finger at him while trying to maintain her sulking expression. "I won't let you hold back anymore! I'll find a way to make it a real challenge for you."

Leon chuckled softly, his eyes warm with affection as he looked at her flushed cheeks and slightly disheveled appearance. "I look forward to it. Though I have to say, you certainly made that route interesting with all those detours."

Their entire playful exchange was being witnessed by a rich-looking, portly man who seemed to be in charge of the whole operation. His rotund figure was draped in expensive silks, and his fingers were adorned with numerous rings that caught the light. But despite his wealthy appearance, his face had gone completely pale with shock as he watched the scene unfold before him.

His hands trembled slightly as he gripped a ledger against his chest, his eyes wide with disbelief. He remembered all too clearly the negotiations from just a few days before—how this same purple-haired woman, who now seemed as playful and affectionate as a docile house cat, had absolutely terrified him during their business dealings.

During those negotiations, her presence had been so intimidating, so overwhelmingly powerful, that he had felt like a mouse cornered by a predator. She had negotiated with such ruthless efficiency that he had ended up selling his entire inventory at such minimal profit margins that even common beggars would have paid more for the same goods. He hadn't been able to do anything about it because he had been far too frightened of her aura, too terrified of what might happen if he refused her terms.

Now, watching her act so carefree and loving, laughing and playfully bantering with her companion, he could barely reconcile the two images in his mind. The contrast was so stark that he wondered if he was looking at the same person who had made him break out in cold sweats just days ago.

But what truly made his blood run cold was watching the young man who had effortlessly matched the speed of the General of the West. The merchant's eyes darted nervously to Leon's silver hair, his youthful but intimidating presence, and the casual way he had kept pace with one of the most powerful awakeners in the kingdom.

The description matched far too closely to rumors he had heard whispered in the darkest corners of merchant circles—stories of a white-haired devil who had emerged from nowhere, whose power was beyond comprehension. His throat went dry as the terrifying possibility dawned on him.

Could this young man be... that monster they speak of in hushed tones?

The one who slew the king...

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