Naya nodded.

"Just wait a moment. I'll change my clothes."

Seeing Leon so impatient, Naya quickened her pace. She hurriedly changed into her Priestess uniform and opened the door again.

"Let's go!" Leon grabbed her hand without a second thought.

Naya blushed slightly.

—Her hand held by Leon, they left the house.

"Leon, where are we going to find your master...?"

"We're heading to Rothschild Manor. With so many people there, someone must know her whereabouts!"

Naya stole a glance at him. For the first time since they met, Leon wore a melancholic expression.

As they walked—

On the street leading to Rothschild Manor, they suddenly heard a scream?!

...

...

...

A few minutes earlier—

Beneath the starry sky, a black-haired woman in a black trench coat strode down the street. She carried a blood-red, translucent sword. Her posture mirrored Leon's uncannily.

Before her stood five adventurers.

"Vanessa, I never expected you'd dare return to Dawn City!"—The speaker was the knight who'd tried to pat Naya's head earlier that day. He and his companions were all elite first-rank adventurers.

The black-haired woman faced them alone.

"Oh? The Hunter's Tracking Art?"

"Exactly! You're unlucky to run into us tonight!" Freya "Eagle Eye," the huntress, snapped coldly.

Unexpectedly, the woman smiled slightly.

"All of you, attack together. I'm in a hurry—I have an important guest to attend to later."

"How dare you underestimate us!"

"Die—!"

They charged as one.

The woman smirked coldly—then vanished!? Her speed blurred past human sight! In a flash, she darted from the first man to behind the fifth. Sword raised, sword fell—she sheathed it. Blood splattered everywhere. All five collapsed.

This was a first-rank adventurer team—they shouldn't be weak! Yet—they were annihilated in seconds.

"With this skill level, quit adventuring. Go farm instead." The woman walked away without looking back, leaving five dying men.

...

...

...

Time ticked by. The knight's consciousness faded... On death's brink, he saw Naya!? She bent over him—was it an illusion?

He felt the glow of the Healing Art—yanked back from the gates of death!

"It's... S-rank... Vanessa...!" he gasped weakly.

"I'll chase her first. I finally found her—she can't escape!" Leon dashed out without another word—

"Leon—!" Naya's cry cut off as he vanished.

She stared at the five bleeding men. Each wound was fatal! The horrific memory of the Obsidian Armor incident flooded back—

Leon's master... was strong... terrifyingly strong... and killed without hesitation. Leon facing her alone was unthinkable!!

No—! I must reach Leon! Naya turned to run—when the knight grabbed her foot.

"Don't abandon us... Save us..." he pleaded, blood bubbling from his lips. "Please! Save me...!"

Naya froze. Every nerve in her body jolted. One side held Leon; the other, five lives hanging by a thread. How could she choose?

"I understand." Naya knelt before the huntress—she had to stop the bleeding first. Save their lives first!

She was Aio's Priestess. Saving others was her duty. Her conscience demanded it.

"I... will do my absolute best! I'll heal you all as fast as I can!"

She spoke, trembling.

"Then I'll go to Leon's side—!"

To be continued.