The next morning, Leon woke up with Roselia nestled in his arms. Her soft breathing was steady, her face serene despite the faint streaks of dried tears on her cheeks. Yet, even with those tear marks, a satisfied and contented smile graced her lips, as if the events of the night had brought her a sense of peace and fulfillment.

    Leon brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch gentle as he studied her features. She looked so vulnerable, a stark contrast to her usual confident and teasing demeanor. He wondered about the emotions that had spilled out the previous night, the tears she had shed even as she smiled.

    He left quietly as he went to washroom.

    Leon glanced back at the bed, seeing Roselia still sound asleep. Her peaceful expression tugged at his lips in a faint smile. "Guess I''m on my own today," he muttered, stepping out of the washroom. Seeing no sign of her waking up, he quickly scribbled a note and left it by her bedside before heading out.

    "Alright," he mumbled to himself while walking through the streets, checking the quest details. "Which one should I tackle first? The Abomination King or the Death Puppet King?"

    After briefly weighing his options, he decided. "Both are resistant to magic, but the Death Puppet King seems less troublesome to start with. Let''s go with him," he reasoned, reviewing the information further.

    "So, this guy fights by creating puppets... And these puppets are not only immune to magic but can reflect it back. Physical attacks it is, then," Leon concluded. With a smirk, he reached into his storage space and pulled out a hefty battle axe, its blade gleaming ominously.

    "Time to put you to good use," he said, chuckling as he hefted the weapon over his shoulder. With his decision made, he began moving toward the dungeon of the Death Puppet King, his resolve firm and his anticipation high.

    Leon exited the inn, his senses immediately picking up on the presence of people trailing him. He scowled inwardly, thinking, "It seems that bastard Hades is hell-bent on killing me."

    A smirk formed on his lips as he muttered to himself, "Lord of Death, huh? I don''t like causing unnecessary trouble, but let''s see what happens when I turn him into an undead too."

    His destination was the Tower shop—a bustling marketplace where anything and everything could be traded, from skill books to rare items, and even gold coins. Leon had chosen an expensive inn near key locations like the Quest Hall and Tower shop for convenience, and it proved to be a wise decision.

    As he approached the shop, he noted the heavy foot traffic, with adventurers and locals alike moving in and out. The building loomed large, its entrance flanked by armed guards diligently checking IDs.

    Leon walked up confidently, pulling out his Ascender card. One of the guards glanced at it before speaking in a detached, professional tone. "You can only roam the first half of the shop floor."

    Leon nodded in understanding, pocketing his card. The restriction for Ascenders on lower floors was standard; only those with significant achievements or special permissions could access the upper tiers of such facilities.

    With that, he stepped inside, ready to explore and possibly prepare for his encounter with the Death Puppet King—or deal with the shadowy figures still lurking behind him.

    Leon''s smile didn''t falter as he tightened his grip on his axe. "You know," he said lightly, "I was hoping for a little warm-up before my next quest. You''re saving me some time."

    Without another word, the leader lunged at him, dagger flashing. Leon sidestepped effortlessly, his axe swinging in a devastating arc that forced the man to retreat. The fight was on, and Leon was more than ready.

    The quiet corner of the shop erupted into chaos as Leon''s axe clashed with the leader''s dagger. Sparks flew, and the resounding clang drew the attention of nearby shoppers and guards, who watched the unfolding fight with mixed curiosity and wariness.

    One of the thugs, a man wielding dual swords, tried to flank Leon, but Leon spun fluidly, his axe slicing through the air in a deadly arc. The man barely managed to block, his swords vibrating under the force of the blow.

    "Amateurs," Leon muttered, a smirk tugging at his lips.

    The burly man with the spiked mace roared and charged, aiming to crush Leon in one swing. Leon shifted his weight, sidestepping at the last moment and bringing his axe down onto the man''s weapon. The spiked mace cracked under the sheer force, and the man stumbled backward in shock.

    Leon capitalized on the opening, kicking the man square in the chest and sending him crashing into a display rack.

    The leader snarled. "Don''t just stand there! Take him down!"

    Two more of the pursuers rushed at Leon simultaneously—a lithe woman wielding daggers coated with poison and a towering man carrying a spear.

    Leon''s movements were a blur as he parried the spear with his axe, twisting his body to avoid the woman''s slashes. One of her daggers grazed his shoulder, the poison sizzling against his armor but failing to penetrate.

    "Nice try," Leon said, his voice calm despite the flurry of attacks.

    He shoved the spear-wielder back with a powerful swing and then pivoted, catching the dagger-wielding woman off-guard with a well-aimed punch. She crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

    The spear-wielder hesitated, glancing at the downed woman and then at the others. The burly man was still groaning on the ground, and the dual-swordsman was barely holding his own.

    Leon tilted his head, his smirk growing wider. "What''s the matter? Not so confident anymore?"

    The leader gritted his teeth, his dagger glowing faintly with enchanted energy. He dashed forward again, this time faster and more precise. Leon''s axe intercepted the blow with ease, but the leader twisted, aiming a second strike at Leon''s side.