Leon's eyes locked onto Korvek with sharp accusation, his voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere:

"What about the time when I simply pointed at the books in your tent? You clearly released genuine killing intent toward me then—I detected it unmistakably. If it hadn't been for Ira stopping you by... by hugging me and putting herself between us, you would have attacked."

The mention of the "hugging" part got an enormous reaction from all three Pyrrhans at the table.

Ira was suddenly reminded vividly of that moment—at the time, she hadn't thought anything of it because she'd simply been desperately trying to save Leon's life through any means necessary.

I just acted. I didn't think about it.

But now, having it mentioned explicitly like this in front of her terrifying aunt and overprotective father during such a deadly serious discussion?

Her face flushed a deep crimson that was visible even against her red skin. She felt profoundly embarrassed, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap.

Why did he have to say it like that?! 'Hugging'?!

Archon Vyrra's stern expression momentarily cracked, and a slight smile appeared on her face as she processed this new information.

Oh? Hugging, was it? How... intimate.

Her tactical mind immediately filed this detail away as further evidence of their developing bond.

However, the smile vanished almost instantly as she deliberately faked a harsh, stern expression and turned her sharp gaze toward her brother-in-law.

"Korvek. You didn't tell me anything about this incident whatsoever when you explained what happened. Explain yourself. Now."

Her voice carried absolute authority and barely suppressed anger.

Korvek's entire body visibly stiffened, caught in his deliberate omission.

Damn it. I knew this would come out eventually.

He remained silent for several long seconds, then—without saying a single word in his defense—he bowed his head low toward Leon, turning to face the outsider directly.

His teeth were grinding audibly as he forced himself to show this humiliating respect.

I was wrong. I know I was wrong.

He knew with absolute certainty that his actions at that moment had been completely improper. He'd acted purely on destructive impulse. He seriously could have hurt Leon badly if he'd actually struck—

But no... I couldn't have. This outsider is stronger than I am now; I know of his true strength. But still, regardless of the outcome, my behavior was inexcusable.

Finally, Korvek spoke, his voice strained and filled with shame:

"I am deeply ashamed of my impulsive behavior at that time."

He forced himself to continue the painful explanation:

"Those books you pointed at—the ones in my private tent—those journals were personally written by my daughter Miraya, who loved writing and documenting everything. Literature was her passion."

His voice cracked slightly.

"So when you pointed at those texts so casually, I... I acted on pure impulse without thinking. I didn't consciously want to hurt you, but my killing intent leaked out uncontrollably because of my emotional state."

He added firmly, looking Leon in the eyes:

"But I genuinely was not actually trying to kill you. I would have stopped myself after breaking a couple of bones if possible."

What the hell, breaking a couple of bones? Should I praise his honesty? This makes me want to fight him even more and see who breaks whose bones now...

But Leon understood one fundamental truth now.

So... everything until now really was just a massive misunderstanding compounded by grief and fear?

Korvek honestly didn't seem like he'd harbored any truly malicious intent now that Leon heard the full context and saw the genuine shame in his posture, despite the fact that I still want to beat him up a little.

He's a father who lost too much. I understand that kind of pain.

He also understood more clearly now that when Korvek had tried to force him out of the clan through that combat trial, and whatever would have happened to Leon afterward in the dangerous wilderness, that wasn't technically Korvek's direct responsibility.

It was cold and brutal, yes. But I can see it was a valid defensive reaction from someone traumatized by loss.

It was harsh pragmatism born from desperation, not genuine murderous intent.

So from the very start to the finish of this entire horrible ordeal, Leon had been trapped in a delusion of his own creation—interpreting everything through the lens of mortal danger when the reality had been far more complex.

I nearly killed him if it wasn't for Archon Vyrra coming in between.

If that happened, it would have been tragic. Afterward, facing Ira, he appreciated Vyrra's intervention.

He honestly didn't even know what to say now, how to respond appropriately to this revelation.

The weight of his own violent overreaction settled heavily on his conscience.

He glanced at Korvek again and felt a strange twist in his gut—not hate, not fear. Just regret. A bitter taste filled his mouth.

I was so ready to kill him. So convinced he wanted me dead.

Just then, as the uncomfortable silence stretched between them, sudden loud ceremonial drums began ringing powerfully in the distance.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The sound was deep, resonant, and clearly carried urgent meaning.

Archon Vyrra, Ira, and Korvek all instinctively stood up immediately in response, their expressions shifting to high alert.

Their entire demeanor changed in an instant—from emotional vulnerability to warrior readiness.

Something was happening.

Something important.

As the three Pyrrhans were moving urgently toward the cave exit, Archon Vyrra glanced back over her shoulder and called out to Leon:

"Come with us. You need to be part of this."

Her tone left absolutely no room for argument or questions.

Leon followed immediately without asking for explanations, clearly recognizing the seriousness of the situation from their body language and the continuing drum beats.

Something major is happening. Stay alert.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

They quickly mounted the same massive flying beast as before—Archon Vyrra's gigantic personal companion, the majestic falcon-like creature with brilliant red and yellow plumage.

SCREECH! WHOOSH!

It took off with explosive speed, flying dramatically faster than it had during their previous journey.

This thing can move when it needs to!

In less than a single minute, they were already positioned high above the main city where the Pyrrhan clan resided, hovering at an altitude that gave them a commanding view of everything below.

Leon's enhanced eyes immediately scanned the scene beneath them, taking in critical details.

Down on the ground, he could clearly see group after group of Pyrrhan warriors assembled in precise military formations, their weapons drawn and held ready for immediate battle.

CLANG! RUSTLE! MURMUR!

The fighters ranged dramatically in age, from young adults to grizzled elderly veterans. It was almost their entire population mobilized, leaving behind only those who genuinely couldn't contribute to combat.

Everyone who can fight is here.

There were even teenagers among the ranks, though Leon knew from checking stats earlier that age didn't necessarily correlate with weakness in this realm.

Even their young are formidable. This whole civilization is built on strength.

But judging by the sheer scale of the mobilization and the tense, ready postures of thousands of warriors, Leon could immediately tell this was an extremely serious situation.

This isn't a drill. This is real.

Countless eyes locked upward onto the massive creature they were riding, tracking its position.

Leon felt the weight of those stares—thousands of Pyrrhan warriors wondering who the strange outsider accompanying their leaders was.

Some recognized him from the battle inside the arena, but most were different, as the scale of it was immense, hundreds of thousands of pyrrhans.

He knew instinctively what was happening.

It seems the time has come. The rifts are about to appear.

The drums continued their ominous rhythm.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

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