Snow fell heavily, blanketing the Vinceral Forest in white silence. Leon walked ahead through the thickening woods, his boots crunching the frost-covered ground. Elaine followed a few steps behind, carefully maneuvering through the low brush. Selene trailed at the rear, eyes darting through the trees, every sound putting her on edge.
“Leo… why are we going into the forest at this hour?” Elaine asked, brushing snow from her clothes as she jumped over a fallen branch.
“You do know this place is crawling with monsters, right?” Selene added, her tone sharp as she gripped the hilt of her dagger with one hand and holded her daughter in other hand. “Don’t get us killed just because we trust you, Leon.”
“As long as you’re following me,” Leon replied, not turning back, “there’s a 99% chance you won’t die. So don’t worry.”
Selene narrowed her eyes. “And the other 1%? What about that ?”
Leon finally cracked a smile. “No one knows.”
“You are not even telling us where-” Before Selene could’ve completed her sentence, Leon stopped walking.
Elaine tensed as she looked at Leon with a confused and scared expression. “W-What is it? Something wrong ?”
Leon shook his head. “No. We’re here.”
“Selene,” Leon said calmly, “come here.”
“Okay…” she muttered, cautiously walking up to him.
Selene stepped up beside him, staring at the massive tree towering above.
“Are we… going to live under a tree now ?” She asked with a confused expression as she looked at Leon.
Without warning, Leon lifted his leg and thrust it deep into the snow, his foot striking solid stone underneath it.
’Yep… That’s the first step of the dungeon.’ He thought with a neutral expression.
“Why would you do that ?” Selene asked, her expression twisted in confusion as she looked at Leon’s leg.
“You ask too many questions,” Leon replied.
“Both of you—place your hands on my shoulders.” Leon spoke as he looked at them.
Elaine and Selene exchanged glances but obeyed without protest, placing their hands on his shoulders.
Leon whispered, “Take me to the last floor.”
In an instant, all four of them vanished.
—
Dungeon – Seventh Floor
*Swish*
They reappeared in a warmly lit stone chamber. Flickering torches lined the walls, casting gentle shadows over the walls.
“Whoa…” Selene breathed, her eyes wide in wonder as she looked around the huge room.
“W-Where are we? How did we get here ?” Elaine whispered, clutching her chest and grabbing Leon’s hand in confusion.
“It’s… warm in here. Is this a dungeon ?” Selene asked, turning to Leon with a smile.
“Yes, How do you know ?” Leon asked with a neutral expression as he looked at her.
“Saw it in a book… Looks really cool in person.” She replied as her eyes continued to scan the room.
“What !? This is a dungeon ? The place where monsters live ? Oh my god… we have to get out of here it’s so danger-” Elaine cried out in disbelief but before she could’ve completed her sentence, Leon interrupted her.
“Calm down, Mom. It’s my dungeon—and you’ll be sleeping here tonight.” Leon replied with a calm expression as he looked at Elaine.
Both women shouted in unison, “What, Your Dungeon !?”
Leon raised a hand. “Look, It’s a long story. I don’t have time to explain it all and—”
Before Leon could’ve completed his sentence, A voice interrupted him.
“Welcome back, Master. Please accept my greetings.” a calm voice said from behind them.
Elaine and Selene spun around—and screamed as soon as they saw Elis’ translucent body and a small blue ball hovering inside it.
“G-Ghost!” they shouted, diving behind Leon and grabbing him tightly.
Leon sighed. “She’s not a ghost. That’s Elis—the dungeon core. She maintains this place. She’ll take care of you while I’m away.”
Elis bowed deeply. “I will, Master.”
“Make some beds for them, Elis. I’ll be—”
“Master. We are back,” another voice interrupted him.
’FUCK… Why is everyone coming now ?’ Leon thought with a serious expression.
He immediately turned toward the entrance, where Dusk walked in beside Fruela.
Elaine held her head immediately loosing her balance and her eyes closing.”Oh my god… Monster, We are all going to die.”
“Dusk, change into your cat form immediately,” Leon ordered.
“Y-Yes, Master,” Dusk replied and instantly shifted into a small black cat.
*Poof*
Selene’s jaw dropped. “T-The monster turned into a cat… holy fucking shit.”
“So that’s where I learned it from.” Leon spoke in a low voice as he looked at Selene.
“Should we run ?” Selene asked with a serious expression as she looked at him.
Leon sighed again. “Look, everything in this dungeon is under my command. You’re safe here. Fruela, take care of them while I’m gone.”
“Yes, Master,” Fruela said, bowing respectfully.
“W-Wait—you’re leaving ?” Elaine asked gaining her balance again.
“I told you already, Mom. Nothing can hurt you here and I have a very important work that I have to do.” Leon explained.
Elaine stepped forward, placing her hand on Leon’s cheek. “Then go. But come back safe, Leo.”
“I will. Don’t worry.” Leon replied with a smile.
“And once you do,” she added, her voice becoming scary and serious but her smile remained the same, “you will owe us some answers.”
“Y-Yeah s-sure… Take me out.” Leon gave a hesitated smile as he immediately disappeared.
Selene turned to her mother, still processing everything. “Did you see that ? Our Leon knows magic… and he owns a dungeon! That’s insane!”
A voice from below cut in. “Hi! I’m Dusk—Master Leon’s familiar.”
Elaine blinked down at the cat. “I’m Elaine… Leon’s mother.”
“I know,” Dusk said, smiling. “I’ve been to your house with Master before.”
“Wait, what? When?” Selene asked, with a suspicious expression.
“You wouldn’t have noticed. I can go invisible.” Dusk spoke as he vanished immediately.
“Okay, this place is full of surprises…” Selene muttered, looking around.
“It is…” Dusk spoke as he re-appeared.
“Your beds are ready, You can sleep on them if you want. I can also make a bed for that human, if you eant.” Elis said softly, pointing to Selene’s daughter.
“No… She sleeps with me.” Selene replied.
“Shall I make your bed bigger than ?” Elis asked with a neutral expression.
“Sure.” Selen replied.
“It’s done… Your Beds are there.” Elis replied as she pointed toward the room’s corner.
“Thank you, we will use them when we need.” Selene replied politely.
She then turned to Fruela. “So… who are you to my brother ?”
Fruela smiled. “I am his servant. Sir Leon rescued me and my sisters from a slave trader. I’ve served him ever since.”
Elaine’s eyes widened. “He did what!?”
Selene nudged her. “Alright, Fruela. You’re telling us everything. From the beginning.”
“Of course,” Fruela nodded with a soft smile.
Meanwhile, Dusk quietly padded out of the room, his tail flicking.
“Master’s about to get into a lot of trouble,” he spoke with a smile.
—
Weaver Household – Justin’s Room
Ten golden lamps lit Justin’s desk, casting a soft glow over his spellbook. He flipped a page, his eyes scanning words efficiently.
“So… that’s how you conjure fireball,” he murmured.
*Click.*
Suddenly the door lock turned.
“Who dares to enter my room without—” he began, then froze.
“Mr. Leon ?”
“Hello, Justin,” Leon said with a faint smile, stepping into the room.
“You didn’t show up this morning. I thought that elf did something to you.”
“Don’t worry about her. She’s gone.”
Justin stood up from the table and walked upto Leon immediately. “You were right. Ever since I stopped eating that poisoned food, the mana’s flowing properly again in my body. It’s like a miracle. I actually have a shot at becoming my family’s successor now.
Are you here to teach me magic Mr. Leon ?” He asked with an excited expression.
“No,” Leon said. “I need a favor.”
Justin tilted his head. “A favor?”
Leon’s tone was steady. “How much power do you have over a village chief?”
“You mean villages outside the kingdom walls?”
“Yes.”
“Well… I can terminate them from their post. But I can’t kill anyone, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“If I wanted him dead,” Leon said coolly, “I wouldn’t be here. I want him removed. Write me a termination letter.”
Justin considered. “If you want to get back at him for something… how about an AST letter?”
“AST?” Leon asked with a confused expression.
“All Services Termination. It strips a noble of their title, their property, their job—everything.”
Leon blinked. “You can do that ?”
“For one and two-star nobles, yes—especially if they have prior offenses. And Kael Klen? That guy is begging to lose his status. He nearly lost it when he tried to steal from the state funds about 2 weeks ago. The king exiled him outside the walls as punishment.”
Justin smirked. “With an AST letter, no one will question it. He’ll become a commoner and without a job he and his family will be decreased to a slave pretty soon.
Because no one gives jobs to nobles who have turned to commoners.”
Leon’s smile turned cold. “Perfect. Write it. I want to throw it in his face before midnight.”
“Yep… I will write it immediately.” Justin sat down and began writing.
’Let’s see who ends up exiled now. Losing power and status? That’s worse than death motherfuckers. Once she becomes a Commoner, I will make that bitch my slave.’
“Should I also write that he getting kicked out of the village ?” Justin asked.
“Yes… Write that in big words.” Leon replied with a smile.
“Okay.”