The next few days passed in a monotonous routine. From 8 a.m. to noon, Leo patrolled the streets with Liamond and Frank, scanning every alley, every shadow, for anything out of place. After a short lunch break, they would resumed from 1 to 4 p.m. The patrols after that were assigned to another group. But despite their relentless search, they found nothing. The other paladins, too, had yet to uncover the truth about the house.
Now, it was Sunday again. Leo sat in the familiar corner of the coffee shop, his hands wrapped around a warm cup. Across from him sat Ryan, staring at him intently.
"You know, no matter how long you keep staring at me, I still can't tell you," Leo said, taking a sip of his drink.
Ryan leaned forward, his voice edged with frustration. "How the hell does a D rank brat summon a god? What did you do?"
Leo only smiled in response.
Ryan sighed, rubbing his temples. "If you're not going to answer, then why did you call me here?"
Instead of answering, Leo stood up and gave a slight bow. "First of all, thank you. I owe you my life."
Ryan grimaced. "Ugh, stop that."
Leo chuckled and sat back down, the same amused smile on his face. "I need to learn an offensive illusion spell."
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Offensive? In illusion field?" He tapped a finger against the table, thinking. "Can't say there are many at D rank."
"What about C rank?"
Ryan gave him a sharp look, suspicion flashing in his eyes. But he didn't ask any questions.
"The best approach would be to upgrade False Image—make it more deceptive, force your target to let their guard down, and then strike with your warrior techniques."
Leo nodded. "And what are the upgrades of False Image?"
"There are several spells within the False Image, but a couple stand out. Take Phantasmal Surge, for example. It generates a powerful illusion—a sudden, overwhelming force that appears to slam into enemies, sending them reeling. The impact isn't real, but the mind doesn't know that. The target's body reacts as if they've actually been hit, throwing them off balance and leaving an opening for a real attack."
Ryan paused, letting the idea sink in before continuing.
"Then there's Hallucination Trap. This one is more versatile. It can create both magical and physical traps, tricking enemies into stepping into nonexistent pitfalls or triggering illusions that feel as real as any actual danger. If you combine it with enchantments, you can weave powerful layered deceptions, setting up traps that are nearly impossible to detect until it's too late."
He folded his arms. "But all of these are just aspects of False Image. As you advance, you won't need separate spells. At higher ranks, you'll be able to combine these effects into a single illusion—one spell that can deceive the senses in multiple ways at once."
"One spell? What is the spell?"
Ryan raised an eyebrow, as if the answer should have been obvious.
"Illusion," he said simply.
"Can you draw them for me?" Leo asked, leaning forward slightly. He could use the Codex Arcanum, but he didn't want Ryan to suspect him even more.
Ryan nodded, pulling out two crumpled sheets of paper and a worn pencil from his coat. He started sketching, his hand moving fast but steady. The spells took shape—sharp, tangled lines more complex than the simple charms Leo had learned before, closer to the twists of the Veil of Deception. When he was done, he slid the papers across the table.
"Be careful with these," Ryan said, his tone serious. "I don't know what you've been messing with, but if your soul's not ready, they could warp you into something monstrous."
Leo grabbed the sketches, folding them into his pocket. "Don't worry," he said, a confident edge in his voice.
They stayed there a little longer, chatting about small things before going their separate ways.
Leo started the walk home, his boots tapping against the cobblestone. With all the chaos of the past few days, it hit him that he hadn't heard from Elna in almost a week. He'd tried reaching her with Telepathy a few times, but it was like shouting into a void—no answer.
He tried again as he walked, focusing hard. Nothing came back. A knot of unease tightened in his chest, but he kept going.
…
Around the large stone table, eight figures sat, their faces obscured by a thick mist. The meeting was initiated by Mr. Sage, the enigmatic leader of the group.
"Welcome, my friends, to another conclave of our order," Mr. Sage's voice echoed through the chamber. "As is our custom, let us commence with the fulfillment of promises made at our last gathering."
Items and gold were exchanged above the table. Leo received his vial of Blood, though it was now useless to him, and tucked it into his bag without a second thought.
With the transactions concluded, Mr. Sage's voice cut through the silence once more. "Now, let us proceed to the heart of our agenda."
A minute later, Mr. King turned his gaze toward Leo. "Mr. Clone, what is happening in Flesa?"
"Yes, I've heard some unbelievable rumors as well," Ms. Eye added, her mist-covered face tilting slightly in his direction.
Leo sighed. He had expected this much. "An individual conducted some kind of ritual and summoned a god in the city's slums. The ritual was detected by Bishop Oryu and was contained before it could spread further. The authorities are investigating, trying to determine who performed the ritual and which god was summoned, but so far, they have nothing. Whoever was responsible has been completely eradicated."
"A god… just like that?" Mr. Crow asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
Mr. Immortal studied Leo with sharp, knowing eyes. "You know more than you're letting on, don't you, Mr. Clone?"
Leo met his gaze for a moment before responding. "Yes, I do." He let the words hang in the air before continuing. "I know which god they summoned."
"I'll pay a thousand gold coins for that information," Mr. King offered. "But I want it in private."
"I'm willing to contribute to the sum," Mr. Crow added.
"Same."
"Me too."
One by one, the others chimed in, and eventually, they agreed to split the thousand gold amongst themselves.
Leo nodded, satisfied with the hefty reward he was about to receive.
"I examined the remains of the god," he began, "which wasn't an easy task with a bishop and an A-rank Illusionist on-site. The entity they summoned was the Goddess of the Moon." He paused before adding, "And before you get any ideas, no, it wasn't me." He knew they might suspect him, especially since he had obtained the vial of Blood at the last meeting.
"The Goddess of the Moon? Why?" Mr. King asked. "What would they want from her?"
"Perhaps they were conducting an experiment," Mr. Immortal suggested, his gaze returning to Leo. "Although you claim it wasn't you, it's quite the coincidence. You acquired vampire blood in our last meeting, and now a god has been summoned out of nowhere. Don't you think that's a little too convenient, Mr. Clone?"
Leo smirked. "You must be an expert in rituals as well, Mr. Immortal. Then you should know that summoning a god requires far more than a single vial of blood." His voice carried a mocking edge.
For a tense moment, Mr. Immortal held his gaze before finally looking away.
Silence lingered over the meeting for a few moments before Mr. Crow turned to Ms. Shadow.
"What's the latest from the Land of Darkness?"
"We managed to break through their last defenses," she answered. "We'll be launching an attack soon—before they can wake that thing up."
Mr. Crow nodded before shifting his attention to Mr. Light. "And the sea?"
Mr. Light shook his head. "Still nothing."
"Alright then. Since there are no further updates, I have a few items for sale," Mr. Crow announced.
No one was surprised.
"The first item is a black gem forged from dragon scales. The price is 500 coins."
"I'll take it," Mr. Immortal said immediately.
Mr. Crow nodded. "The next item is the Dagger of the Dragon's Tooth. It possesses the ability to heat up to extreme temperatures, making it capable of slicing through ordinary swords with ease. Additionally, it can launch slashes of fire at enemies. It's an B rank weapon, and so are its abilities.
However, it has two negative effects. First, the dagger is constantly hot, making it dangerous to hold without protection. Second, it gradually depletes the water in your body, and prolonged use will leave you completely dried out. The price is 350 coins."
The weapon was powerful, but Leo had no way to counteract its drawbacks. Besides, he preferred swords over daggers.
"I'll take it," Ms. Shadow said. "It might come in handy for our next mission."
Mr. Crow acknowledged her before continuing.
"The last item is the Titan's Guard, a B rank shield. Its abilities include absorbing fire, light and pure magic, sealing it within until the wielder chooses to release it as an attack. It can also convert the stored energy into a protective barrier, which can explode and damage nearby enemies. Additionally, it warns the wielder of incoming threats, making hidden and surprise attacks ineffective.
Its drawbacks are as follows: The shield constantly 'feeds' on mana if not supplied with energy, draining the wielder over time. When absorbing attacks, it slowly consumes the stored energy. This can be beneficial in some situations and detrimental in others. The most significant downside is its weight—it grows heavier the more energy it accumulates, and I mean extremely heavy. The price is 280 coins."
A shield would complement Leo's sword well. It had offensive and defensive capabilities, and its drawbacks were manageable.
"I'll take it," he said after a moment of consideration.
"That concludes the sales," Mr. Crow announced.
With all items sold, Mr. Sage brought the meeting to an end.
…
The next day, Leo was back on patrol duty with Liamond and Frank. After gearing up in the storage room, he made his way to the main hall, where the other two were already waiting.
"Shall we go?" Liamond asked.
Leo and Frank exchanged glances before nodding, falling in step behind him as they stepped outside.
Their patrol route led them from the narrow alleys of Ashburn Street to the slums, where crime festered in the shadows. They deliberately avoided the western side—it was always swarming with paladins and officers, making their presence unnecessary. The eastern alleys, however, were another story.
The streets were quiet, but not in a comforting way. It was the kind of silence that made instincts sharpen and hands hover near weapons.
As they advanced, Liamond, leading the group, suddenly raised a fist—a silent signal to halt.
Leo froze, his grip tightening on his sword as he followed Liamond's gaze.
At the far end of the alley, something moved. Just barely. A disturbance in the darkness, subtle but unmistakable.
No words were needed. In an instant, all three drew their weapons.
Then, before they could react, the figure burst from the shadows, moving with unnatural speed. It landed behind them in a blur, and a wave of pure darkness exploded outward.
The world shifted. A thick, writhing veil of shadow swallowed the alleyway, cutting off the surrounding streets from view. The nearby buildings were barely visible through the inky haze.
Frank stepped forward, his sword and shield igniting with radiant light, pushing against the unnatural gloom. Leo held his sword at the ready, muscles coiled to strike. Liamond's floating book hovered before him, its pages flipping on their own, magic crackling at his fingertips.
Leo's breath came slow and steady as he scanned the figure before them.
Shadows coiled around its form like living tendrils, twisting and writhing as if alive. A humanoid shape, faceless beneath the shifting darkness.
Then, recognition struck him like a hammer to the chest.
His heart skipped a beat. His grip on the sword faltered for just a second.
He knew that figure.
It was his homunculus.