Night had already fallen by the time Leon and Alicia returned to the manor.
"Alicia, your room is over there."
Leon spoke with a touch of helplessness as he looked at Alicia, who had been trailing behind him the whole way.
"Oh!"
Alicia nodded, only just realizing she had mindlessly followed Priest Leon all the way to his bedroom door.
"Wait."
She had only taken a few steps when Leon's voice rang out behind her. Alicia turned back, looking confused.
She saw Leon raise his priest's staff. A sphere of soft, warm light materialized at its tip. Leon said, "Goodnight, Alicia."
So it was because they hadn't said goodnight... Alicia broke into a smile. "Good... night... Priest... Leon."
Seeing that Leon had nothing more to say, Alicia finally headed back to the room she had chosen.
Leon returned to his own room and looked at the panel.
【Divine Spell Performance Rating: Normal】
【Light Prayer EXP +4】
【Light Prayer Lv2 (15/300) → Light Prayer Lv2 (19/300)】
"It really is related to Alicia's uniqueness..."
Leon confirmed it. Even in a situation that didn't fit the practical application of Light Prayer at all, he could still earn a "Normal" rating. It was indeed tied to Alicia's status as a God-Chosen.
"Maybe I can farm some experience from Alicia..." Leon thought to himself.
...
The next day.
Leon sat in the dining room, holding a copy of the 《Solainem Daily》.
This newspaper was published by a local press in Solainem, recording major events of the Heron Empire and various news within the city of Solainem.
"Vampires from the Nightmare Empire crossing the border without permission?"
"National Priest Assessment approaching! The Pope emphasizes: This is a trial of the Sacred Light for all believers!"
"The Dragon Knight journey of legendary bloodline warrior Arthur! (May involve a female dragon)"
"Solainem Commentary: Baron Sori blocks half of Minko Street for a birthday celebration? Is this the noble way?"
"Missing Person: (Image attached), 15-year-old girl, went missing on Rum Street."
Looking at the content of the Solainem Daily, Leon focused on the first headline. Vampires from the Nightmare Empire had actually crossed the border into the Heron Empire's territory?
One had to know that the Heron Empire and the Nightmare Empire frequently had friction at the border.
Now that those vampires dared to rashly cross the border, it was undoubtedly a provocation to the Heron Empire's dignity. If handled poorly, it could lead to a small-scale armed conflict.
Recalling his earlier inquiry about the cause of the gray mist riot, Ryan had mentioned it might be the work of the Nightmare Empire...
"Could the Nightmare Empire really be planning to start a war with the Heron Empire?"
Leon couldn't help but feel worried.
In this world where great power resided in individuals, a single person could be an army. If war came, there would be nowhere to hide. Encountering a powerhouse of the Gold or Diamond rank would leave nothing but death.
Just imagine a mobile nuclear bomb with a tiny volume and high intelligence that could slip into the empire's territory at any time—who wouldn't be afraid?
"Miss Alicia, your collar is crooked."
At that moment, the old butler's voice came from outside.
The old butler led Alicia into the dining room, helping her straighten the collar of her noble lady's long dress.
The reason he had to "lead" her was because Alicia had gotten lost in the manor after waking up.
Leon understood this feeling well. Having a manor that was too large wasn't always a good thing. Even with memories to guide him, it was very easy to lose one's way to the dining room or one's own bedroom without someone to lead the way.
After finishing breakfast, Leon said:
"Alicia, are you free today?"
Alicia nodded quickly. "I... am... free!"
Although Leon had said she could stay at the manor indefinitely, Alicia always felt that one shouldn't eat without working. Having had two meals in a row from Leon made her feel very self-conscious.
Hearing that Leon might have work for her, she immediately perked up and responded.
"Then, can you be my divine spell sparring partner?" Leon asked.
"Sparring... partner?"
"It just means helping me practice my divine spells. It might involve a bit of combat."
"Combat... I... am... good!"
"Great, then we'll have a match later."
...
On the open plaza of the manor, Leon and Alicia had taken their positions.
Leon said, "I'll be using my full strength in a moment, so be careful."
Alicia set her face in a serious expression. "Under... stood!"
The moment her voice fell, Leon didn't hesitate. He immediately raised his priest's staff.
"Light Prayer!"
His mental energy was rapidly consumed as a brilliant sphere of light materialized at the tip of the staff.
However, compared to the warm sphere of light from yesterday, the feeling this orb gave Alicia was not warmth, but scorching heat.
She instantly felt as if her skin was being seared by fire. Everywhere the light from the orb touched, even through her clothes, there was a burning pain.
Anyone else would have found it difficult to endure such searing agony, but Alicia only showed a pained expression for a brief moment before quickly returning to normal.
To her, pain seemed to be a common occurrence.
She rapidly chanted something under her breath, and once she finished, her body turned into a shadow and vanished from the spot.
Seeing this, Leon quickly channeled the mental energy in his mind, and an arm of holy light manifested.
【Hand of Divine Spells】!
However, the massive hand did not wander aimlessly to find Alicia. Instead, it partially closed, wrapping around Leon like a protective shell.
The moment a shadow beneath Leon's feet flickered with a distorted movement and a figure emerged, the Hand of Divine Spells snapped open like an arrow released from a bow.
Just as Alicia emerged from the shadows, she was swatted away by the Hand of Divine Spells.
A look of confusion appeared on Alicia's face. Could the Hand of Divine Spells be used like that?
But she didn't dwell on it too much.
She continued to chant her incantations and dove back into the shadows.
Leon's Hand of Divine Spells had dissipated, leaving him without protection. Yet, he remained calm and quickly condensed a second orb of Light Prayer at the tip of his staff.
The two spheres of light floated in the air to his left and right, guarding him like sentinels.
Leon stared at the two shadows at his feet. Noticing that one shadow had become slightly deeper than the other, he pointed his staff, and a Hammer of Holy Light quickly took shape.
When Alicia emerged from the shadow again, a Hammer of Holy Light, larger than her entire body, was rapidly expanding in her field of vision.
Ultimately, the Hammer of Holy Light stopped just above Alicia's head, never falling.
Alicia looked at the Hammer of Holy Light above her, then at the smiling Leon. She said dejectedly, "I... lost."
She didn't understand. Back in the town, her Shadow Stealth had taught many thugs and thieving adventurers a lesson, and she had never been detected.
Why didn't it work against Leon?
She had just said she was good at combat, yet she had been defeated so quickly...
Will Priest Leon think I'm a braggart? Alicia suddenly thought with worry.
"It was just a spar. Winning and losing is normal."
Leon smiled and reached out to pat her head.
He thought to himself, You did a great job, Alicia!
On the panel, several streaks of light flashed. The divine spells he had just cast had all gained quite a bit of experience!
Rate on N.U.
