Leon was listening to their conversation the entire time, standing next to Professor Theo, whose eyes were fixed on the dark mana core below.

Exactly seven minutes were left, yet new events kept unfolding one after another. Leon traced each of them inside his head.

Starting from House Vallahail's disappearance incident, to Veronica suddenly pushing him to the front, Leon was slowly grasping everything that was happening.

He snapped his neck lightly and glanced at Eula and Veronica.

'Give me a break,' he thought.

He had not expected it to escalate to this scale. He had already predicted House Vallahail's involvement, but the Demon God's vessel placed everything on a different level.

To others, the situation might look chaotic and confusing, but because of Leon's intelligence, each piece fell into place without effort.

Dots were connecting one after another, forming a clear outline inside his mind.

A faint smirk appeared on his face, as he finally grasped it.

'So she was pulling the string…'

No wonder, Veronica seemed this odd to him today.

'If so… then it's only natural for me to play along.' Leon wanted to see exactly what this would lead him to.

But before he let himself play in Veronica's hand, he wanted to let her know that he was aware of it all.

He stepped forward, with the quiet certainty of someone who saw through every layer placed in front of him. He calmly raised his hand and rubbed his chin before speaking in a steady tone.

"Sister, I am curious about one thing... Did Silvermoon tell you to push me forward like this?"

Veronica froze for a single second.

Leon's smile widened a little at her reaction. With one hand adjusting his specs, and other resting on Moonblade, he added.

"Or did she say something else that made you act this way?"

The confidence in his voice carried a quiet pressure, not in a threatening manner, but it was impossible to ignore. It was the kind of question only someone who already knew the answer would ask.

Professor Theo blinked at the mention of Silvermoon. At this point, he would not be surprised if a literal calamity descended.

Eula's eyebrows lifted slightly, she had seen the Silvermoon inside the book, where Leon entered.

He tilted his head just enough to make it clear to her.

"I would prefer the full version," he added softly. "Since we are both playing this game."

If someone wished to treat him as a chess piece, then he would make sure they recognized him before touching the board.

Silvermoon could see endless timelines, that much he was aware of.

If she was guiding Veronica now, then she had already seen what he was planning to do next.

'Heh, is this even possible to overcross someone who could see what you're gonna do beforehand?'

Perhaps.

If it's Leon, he knows several ways to tackle such instances.

"Leon…" She took a breath. "I did not want to say this now, but—"

"I never wanted you to be involved in all of this," she said quietly. "Believe me when I say that."

She hurriedly added.

"But, I can't defy her. I do not know what she saw… but she said you would understand it when the time comes."

'When times come huh?' Leon repeated.

Exactly what she was referring to? Leon was unable to guess that part yet.

Following someone else's script was never in Leon's nature. But just this once, he chose to walk into her prophecy on his own terms.

"Alright," he told Veronica, "I will play along."

'I will do it her way just this once.'

Veronica smiled and nodded, "then, let's move, the time is running, I can sense the royal knights getting closer."

What Veronica… or more precisely, Silvermoon wanted right now was a performance great enough to shake the entire Town once again.

And Leon knew exactly what to do.

He turned to the carter and stepped down, his fingers brushing the Moonblade.

Leon had never used Light affinity with Lumina's swordart. He was curious about what outcome it would generate.

Veronica, Eula, and professor Theo saw him landing smoothly.

"Will he be fine?" Theo asked, staring at the Demon God's vessel which was dark up to his chest now.

The vessel's body was in a vulnerable state now. It was not human anymore, so before the seed finally evolved and the Demon God's soul attached to it, Leon would simply need to destroy the vessel.

That means he needed to kill the young boy along with his dark mana core.

"Princess, bear witness to everything that happens from this moment," Veronica said calmly.

Eula narrowed her eyes. She hated seeing Leon dragged into this, but the way Leon walked down without hesitation told her everything. He already had a plan.

Leon was never the type to be pushed around. If he allowed this, he had already chosen his move.

Before Eula could think further—

"Over there!" A voice shouted from the opposite side of the carter

Eula glanced at them instantly, as did Theo.

A man with grey hair rode forward on a black armored horse. His armor bore the crest of the Liora Kingdom. Behind him, dozens of elite soldiers followed.

"Princess!" The man called out, eyes widening as he recognized her.

Another voice followed from behind the soldiers.

"Veronica?"

Veronica smirked faintly. She did not look at him, but her voice carried without any effort.

"I knew you would arrive, Father."

Duke Orion himself stepped forward from the horse line, carrying no weapon yet his commands held more pressure than the armed knights behind him.

"Where are Leon and Layla?" he asked.

But his horse stopped abruptly the moment he drew near the crater. A heavy sickness rolled over the group as the dense dark mana hit them fully.

His gaze froze as he looked down.

At the center of the crater was the half-black, half-translucent child.

And approaching that child with a calm, steady pace was Leon, white sword in hand.

Orion's breath hitched.

"What is he doing there?"

He could not look away. His eyes locked onto Leon's hands as Leon raised the white sword slightly and muttered something under his breath.

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