CHAPTER 175: THE END [2]

The next few minutes were spent searching through the remains of the fallen enemies, hoping to find anything useful.

Unfortunately, most of the materials had been destroyed during Leo’s final attack.

It didn’t look like there was anything worth salvaging from the dungeon.

"Good work, everyone," Leo said, letting out a tired sigh. "There’s nothing really valuable left for us here, but I’m sure we can still get a decent price for what we did manage to collect. We’ll divide the earnings equally, except for me and Rin. Is everyone okay with that?"

"Okay."

"Got it."

Leo nodded, satisfied with the responses. "Also, according to the report, the ones we captured were wanted criminals. That means we’ll be getting bonus points. Everyone in the party will receive some."

Ryen was probably still in the lead, but after this mission, Leo might’ve closed the gap quite a bit.

"Luke," Leo continued, turning toward him, "you’re in charge of selling the loot. Handle that when we get back."

"Understood."

"I was going to dismiss everyone now," Leo said, scratching the back of his head, "but there’s something I need to say before we go."

He turned his gaze to me.

"I didn’t think I’d have anything else to say to you after clearing this dungeon... but here it is."

I looked back at him, eyebrows raised. "What?"

"I don’t know if you can actually recover your primal Qi like you said. I’m still skeptical," Leo said, crossing his arms. "But for now, I’ll take your word for it."

He didn’t sound very convinced, though.

"But if that is the case," he continued, voice more firm now, "you need to let us know in advance. What if you collapsed mid-battle? What if you became dead weight before the fight was over? This isn’t just about you—we’re not just losing one person if you fall, we’re risking the whole team."

His words weren’t harsh, but they were serious.

And he wasn’t wrong.

I lowered my gaze, feeling the weight of his words settle in.

He was right.

I had gambled—on myself, on my recovery, on a power I hadn’t fully regained. And while it had worked out this time, it easily could’ve gone the other way.

"...I understand," I said quietly. "You’re not wrong. I should’ve said something before we started."

Leo gave a small nod, then turned away slightly, his voice calmer now. "I’m not trying to push you out. If anything, I want you in the team—at full strength. But this isn’t the kind of place where we can afford blind faith."

"I get it," I said again, this time more firmly. "Next time, I’ll make sure everyone knows what to expect."

There was a brief silence before Leo turned back toward me and—unexpectedly—bowed his head.

Everyone froze.

But none were more shocked than me.

Leo... bowed?

Leo, the prideful, sharp-tongued, never-backs-down Leo? That guy? He didn’t even bow in the novel when his life was on the line. Yet here he was, lowering his head in front of me.

I stood there, stunned, the words caught in my throat.

"I mean it, Rin," Leo said quietly. "Our party might’ve been in real danger today if you hadn’t pushed yourself. I might not have been able to protect them all without you. So... thank you."

His tone was sincere—clear and steady. There was no mockery, no sarcasm. Just... honest gratitude.

It was a strange feeling.

In the original story, Leo was fiercely loyal to those he accepted as his own, but he never showed it in ways like this. He didn’t bow. He didn’t express emotions so directly. He led with his back, not with words.

Maybe...

Maybe there was a reason he turned out so cold in the novel.

Could it have been... because Rin Evans died?

I looked at him more carefully.

He was rough around the edges, still arrogant and intense. But under that pride, there was someone who cared—deeply. Someone trying to carry more than he should.

"It’s understandable if you’re hesitant to stay in the party after what happened," he said, standing upright again. "But I’ll make sure something like this never happens again. I’ll get stronger—strong enough to handle weaklings like them without needing you to take the risk."

There he was.

That was the Leo I knew.

Still stubborn. Still proud. But beneath all that, someone who owned his failures and promised better.

I nodded silently.

He gave a small, final glance around at the group and clapped his hands once.

"Alright. Let’s disband for today."

Everyone started moving, murmuring quietly among themselves. Some still looked surprised. Others glanced between me and Leo with curious eyes.

As for me... I just stood there for a moment longer, watching Leo’s back as he walked away.

And for the first time since I ended up in this world, I wondered—

If Rin Evans hadn’t died in the original story...

Would Leo have turned out differently?

And if I stayed alive now...

Would that change everything?

The thought lingered in my mind long after the others had started making their way out of the dungeon.

Would Leo have been different if Rin had lived?

Would the cold, calculating leader from the novel have been... warmer? Would the unshakable commander who carried his comrades like burdens instead of companions have shared the load more freely?

I didn’t know.

But if my being here—if Rin Evans being alive—could change even a single thread of how things turned out...

Then maybe I wasn’t just trying to survive in this world.

Maybe I was here to fix something that had been broken.

But what exactly?

I sighed and pushed those thoughts.

Those are useless for me right now anyway.

I glanced down at my rusty bracelet and couldn’t help but smrik.

[Soul Bound Staff]

Now I have what I needed the most.

It’s time to deal with hidden villain inside of the academy.

...And just like that my first day in [ Perfact Hunting Club] comes to the end.