Sheon and Leonel
[Kingdom of Wilfharm]
Purebliss Inn one of the busiest inns in the Wilfharm Nation was a well-known establishment located near the Adventurers' Guild. Because of its convenient location, it was often frequented by adventurers seeking rest after their missions.
Inside one of the inn's rooms, a young man sat on the bed, his body wrapped in bandages. This was Leonel. Despite his injuries, his wounds had already healed likely due to the system's abilities forcing him to feign pain to maintain appearances.
Just then, the door opened, and a girl entered. She wore a simple set of leather armor with a sword strapped to her waist. Her long, flowing blue hair reached down to her back, complementing her aqua-blue eyes and seductive red lips. She had an extraordinary figure one that could captivate any man but even so, her beauty paled in comparison to Asmodeus. At best, she was on par with Princess Roselle.
She walked over to Leonel and handed him a glass of water. "How are you feeling?" she asked with a gentle voice.
Leonel, still pretending to be in pain, took the glass from her with a faint smile. "I can't thank you enough for saving me," he said sincerely, his attractive features further accentuated by his expression of gratitude.
The girl sat on the opposite side of the bed, a small, curious smile playing on her lips. "Well, I couldn't just leave a helpless human out there. But you're pretty strong, aren't you? I can tell you're at least 5th Order, right?"
Leonel chuckled internally at her words but maintained his act. "Yeah, I am a 5th Order Mage. But I was ambushed by bandits. They robbed me of everything I had." He sighed, feigning disappointment. "I had planned to settle down here in Wilfharm and live a peaceful life… but now? What a shame."
At his words, the girl's expression darkened, her fists tightening. "Those vile bandits… I'll never forgive those bastards!" she growled, her voice laced with deep-seated hatred.
Leonel barely contained his grin. It seemed his lie had triggered something deeper than he expected.
---
[New Quest Alert]
Quest: Help Sheon on her quest for revenge against the Rominary Yellow Bandits
Info: Seven years ago, when Sheon was still an ordinary human, she and her sister fell victim to the Rominary Yellow Bandits. Her sister the only family she had was murdered before her eyes, while Sheon barely managed to escape. Since then, she has pursued power to take revenge on the bandits. However, even after attaining significant strength, she realized she would need a capable partner to ensure success.
Phase 1: Join her on her quest.
Reward: Her trust & a breakthrough in mana.
Phase 2: Complete the quest.
Reward: Unknown / Key information.
Penalty: None.
---
Leonel's eyes widened slightly at the system message. 'Wow, I can't believe my luck.'
Realizing the mood had shifted, he quickly put on a remorseful expression. "Did I… bring up bad memories? That wasn't my intention. I'm deeply sorry," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.
Sheon took a deep breath and shook her head. "No, it's not your fault," she assured him.
Leonel pretended to hesitate before speaking again. "I only wish I knew where their base was. I remember them being called the Rominary Yellow—"
Sheon abruptly cut him off. "—Bandits. The Rominary Yellow Bandits!" she spat the name with venom, her expression clouded with anger. "Even if you knew their base, taking them on alone would be suicide. Their numbers are massive, and their leader is close to a 6th Order Mage. You wouldn't stand a chance by yourself."
Leonel raised an eyebrow. "You sound like you have a personal vendetta against them. You even know a lot of details about their strength…"
Sheon hesitated for a moment before sighing. "It's nothing much… I just have a little payback to settle with them."
Leonel smirked inwardly. "Then why haven't you taken them down yet? Is it because you're short on manpower?"
Sheon blinked in surprise before smiling slightly. "You read me like a book. I actually need someone at least 5th Order to watch my back." She spoke in a quieter tone, as if hesitant to ask for help outright.
Leonel put on a thoughtful expression before sighing. "Well, since they wronged me too, why don't we team up? Besides…" He scratched his head sheepishly, selling the act. "I'm actually a 6th Order Mage myself… I just suppress my power using an ancient technique."
Sheon's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's… possible? Your suppression technique is flawless."
Leonel nodded. "It is. So, if you're looking for a partner, you've found one."
Sheon's serious expression melted into an eager smile. "In that case… I accept!"
---
A system notification flashed before Leonel. He grinned.
'Finally… I've taken my first step toward true strength.'
A 6th Order Mage was no joke. With their level of power, they could wipe out entire armies. Based on his previous knowledge, 6th Order Mages were mountain-level threats, capable of reducing vast landscapes to rubble. And this was just the beginning.
As he unleashed his true power, he felt every detail of the world around him every ripple of mana, every lifeform, every movement fall within his perception. Even with his eyes closed, he could see everything within range.
Sheon exhaled, feeling the surge of mana from him. "Such potent energy… luck must truly be on my side." She then glanced at him with curiosity. "By the way, which nation are you from? With power like yours, you could live comfortably anywhere. Why leave your former home town?"