CHAPTER 45: FIRST OFFICIAL MISSION QUEST!

As Leon reached school, everything felt normal—just like any other day. The morning sun was rising, its gentle rays casting across his face as he stepped through the front gates.

He moved through the corridors in silence, calm and steady, until he reached his classroom. Sliding open the door, he walked in, placed his bag on his desk, and without a word, turned and walked back out.

His destination was the rooftop.

It was a long climb, but for Leon, it was just part of his morning routine—his quiet walk to breathe.

As Leon stepped onto the rooftop, the breeze greeted him first—cool and calm. The city beyond the walls of the academy stretched out under the soft morning light, blurred slightly by a thin mist.

He leaned on the railing, eyes scanning the horizon, mind quiet but not empty. The memory from last night... that dream, or whatever it was, still echoed faintly in his thoughts.

"Divine Art: Ha—" The words still stopped halfway. Like something inside him refused to let them be heard.

He closed his eyes, letting the wind hit his face.

"What the hell was that spell?" he muttered. "And why does it feel like... I’ve used...it before?"

The thought struck deeper than he expected, sending a subtle shiver down his spine.

Used it before? When? How?

He couldn’t remember anything like that in his training, nor had anyone ever taught him a spell of such magnitude.

Leon opened his eyes again, narrowing them at the cityscape.

"It wasn’t just a dream... it felt real. The weight, the sound, the power—it wasn’t imagined."

"What the fuck is wrong with this world? How do they expect a guy to live peacefully after throwing this many mysteries at him?"

Leon sighed, scratching his head in frustration.

"And who the hell was that guy? Always showing up in my dreams... talking about gods, human nature, and things I can’t even begin to understand."

Then it hit him. His eyes widened as the scattered pieces of memories started to align.

"Wait... that kid at the shrine—was he the same as that guy? Could that have been his past? His childhood?"

He dropped onto the rooftop bench, palms pressed over his eyes.

"It’s so damn confusing. Which timeline were those memories even from?" A deep breath. "But I can say one thing for sure... they’re not from this timeline. If they were, I would’ve heard about that war. About all of it."

The bell rang, sharp and clear, signaling the start of the school day.

Leon stood up from the bench, brushing off his thoughts with a scoff. "Let’s go, Leon. You’re not some detective meant to solve the universe’s riddles."

He made his way down from the rooftop, descending each Floor until he reached First Year’s Class B. As he pushed open the door, the familiar noise of morning chatter greeted him—students laughing, whispering, lost in their own carefree worlds.

From behind, Hiroshi and Kami appeared.

"Yo," Hiroshi greeted.

"Good morning," Kami added with a small smile.

Leon gave a nod. "Morning."

Moments later, the door clicked open again. Dr. Smith, the homeroom teacher, stepped in with his usual composed expression.

"All rise."

The class stood in unison. Leon and the others settled into their seats as the session began. Dr. Smith’s voice filled the room, diving into explanations while the students followed, notebooks open, minds half-present.

After the first half of the day, the lunch bell rang.

Squad 12 sat at their usual table—eating, chatting, occasionally laughing, letting the pressure of the morning melt away. But the mood was a little quieter than usual. Leon, Hiroshi, and Kami shared glances now and then, something unsaid hanging in the air.

Lunchtime passed, and it was time for Combat Class.

As all the squads lined up in rows, their teacher—a sharp-eyed woman known for her intense training methods—stood before them with a noticeable spark in her expression. Not the usual sternness. It was excitement.

"Everyone," she called, "today I have great news for you all."

Instant whispers exploded across the class.

"What’s the news, ma’am?!" "Yeah, tell us—we’re dying here!" "Wait, did we break a school record?!"

The teacher chuckled softly and nodded. "Yes—but not in school history. In my career history."

Students blinked in confusion.

"Your... career?" "What does she mean by that?" "Is that better or worse?"

She raised her hand and the noise stopped instantly.

"Let me explain. This year, your squads and your class... have become the fastest group of first-years I’ve ever taught to qualify for their first official mission quest."

Gasps and wide eyes rippled through the ranks. Some students beamed with pride, others tried to act like it was no big deal. But over at the end of the row, Squad 12 stood with mixed emotions. They were excited—but a quiet worry crept in too.

Will they really trust us with a mission after what happened?

We were crushed in that last battle...

Leon’s eyes narrowed slightly. Hiroshi folded his arms, deep in thought. Kami bit her lip.

They didn’t celebrate like the rest. Not yet.

"Now, I’ll hand out the quests assigned to each squad," the teacher announced. "Come to the table one by one, squad-wise—first to last."

She pointed toward a table in the corner, where stacks of mission scrolls were neatly arranged.

Being last, Squad 12 didn’t bother getting in line. They sat quietly in their corner, watching as each squad approached, received their mission, and left with buzzing excitement. The teacher’s pride was clear—her joy growing with every handoff.

Finally, it was Squad 12’s turn.

As they approached the table, the teacher still wore a smile, but the excitement in her voice dimmed noticeably.

"Squad 12," she said, placing a scroll into Hiroshi’s hands, "this is your first official mission. The details are all here."

Then she added, "You’re assigned to eliminate the entities threatening the outskirts of the Kingdom of Willbird."

Hiroshi and Kami exchanged glances—unease settling in, But Leon looks away.

"But... wasn’t Willbird destroyed years ago?" Hiroshi asked. "Are there still people living there?"

The teacher nodded, sighing. "Unfortunately, yes. They refuse to abandon their motherland, no matter the danger. That’s why they requested assistance. Hunters."

She paused, then her tone shifted—calm fading into warning.

"And one more thing..."

All three leaned in slightly.

"Our investigation unit reported signs of Minus One somewhere near the outer villages."

Their eyes widened instantly.

"Minus One?!" Kami echoed. "But... wasn’t he defeated by Commander?"

Leon’s voice was steady. "No. He wasn’t. He transferred his core just before the Kimono guy could finish him off. I heard everything... that day."

Silence fell for a moment.

They know,

This wasn’t just their first mission.

It was a warning.

And maybe... a second chance.

After school ended, Leon made his way to the ancient weapon store again. This time, he silently hoped he wouldn’t walk in on anything... awkward.

As he stepped through the door, the bell chimed.

"Welcome, sir! What would you like? A sword, an axe—"

"I’m Leon," he cut in calmly.

Miss Tina paused. "Oh... Leon."

Her eyes dropped to the counter, cheeks tinting with color. Without meeting his gaze, she reached for the dark sword and held it out with both hands. "Th-this is your sword. I... added some extra work. You don’t h-have to pay for it."

Leon let out a small sigh, a soft smile on his face. "Still thinking about yesterday? It was an accident."

She fidgeted with her fingers, nervous. "B-but... I was... you saw..."

"You’re pretty," he said casually, handing her the payment. "That’s all that matters. Don’t overthink it."

With a final wave, he walked out.

Inside the store, Tina froze. Her face flushed red as her hands hovered near her mouth.

"D-d-did he... j-j-just call me... p-p-p-pretty?!"

Leon reached home just as the sun began its descent, the soft orange glow spilling through the windows.

As he opened the door, a familiar scent of spices drifted from the kitchen. He set his sword by the entrance and walked in, stretching his arms. "Nina?"

"In the kitchen!" her voice chimed, bright and energetic.

He peeked in to find her standing by the stove, apron on, hair tied back—stirring something in a pot. "You’re home early," she smiled without turning around. "Hungry?"

"Not yet," Leon said, "Smells good though."

Nina glanced over her shoulder. "Training wasn’t too rough?"

He leaned against the wall. "Not rough. Just... different. We got our first mission."

She paused, looking at him fully now. "Seriously? Already? What is it?"

"Kingdom of Willbird. We’re supposed to clear out entities threatening the people living near the edges."

Her smile faded slightly. "That place... it’s almost a ghost land. I heard the Royal Guard avoided sending students there."

Leon nodded. "Yeah. But people still live there, won’t leave. So they asked for hunters."

Nina frowned, stirring slower now. "You be careful, okay?"

Leon looked at her—worried, despite the brave front. He smiled, trying to reassure her.

"We’ll be fine. Hiroshi and Kami are good. And I’ll be careful."

Nina turned back to her cooking, muttering just loud enough for him to hear, "You always say that..."