Chapter 178: Sneaking In!
After visiting the temple, Leo walked back to the home, the sky had already turned dark, and there was not even a single soul outside of it.
As if the city itself was abandoned, nothing, not even the crows, stray dogs, or cats... not a single thing was lurking around.
Except for the police siren and patrols going all over the streets to watch over nothing happening. The wails of the sirens echoed like mournful cries through the empty alleys, their flashing lights sweeping past empty windows that watched without life.
Leo carefully moved not to get involved with the police as he walked back to his home. He kept to the shadows, head lowered, his steps measured. The last thing he wanted was to explain why he was out at this hour, especially when every shit was going on here.
While walking, his thoughts were still about what she said...
"There is no way... ha," he muttered with a defeated tone, as if he couldn’t believe he was hoping for something that was impossible.
He nudged his nose. Ever since he saw Caelindra, he had been a little paranoid and kind of lost.
He didn’t show it outside, but the guilt of her last words... still echoed in his mind. Her voice returned again and again, slicing through his thoughts like a blade he couldn’t dull.
Like a nightmare that refused to leave, that’s why he kept thinking of a way to bring her back. The image of her fading away haunted him, a memory replaying every time he closed his eyes.
The thought of failing her once was unbearable, but failing her forever?
That was a torment he could not accept.
Sure, others might not get what he was thinking and what he was doing, but... in his heart he knew what he was doing and... why he was doing it! He clenched his fists, jaw tightening as if to remind himself that his resolve was the only thing he had left.
His Pride was still there somewhere inside the new woman... He could see it... Those green sparks, those were evidence of her being inside.
Even if no one else believed him, he had seen it in her eyes—those fleeting emerald flames that belonged only to her.
That was the proof he could not turn away from.
Leo sighed deeply before taking his phone from his pocket. He saw... There was a missed call on it as his phone was still silent. "Who called me?" he wondered as he clicked and saw... Sakura.
Leo blankly stared at her name for a second before about to make a call, but then... his fingers hesitated. His thumb hovered, trembling slightly, as a wave of hesitation flooded through him.
She might be with her parents right now. He imagined her sitting in that cold, gilded house, her mother watching over her like a hawk, her father’s gaze ever distant.
Calling her would be... kind of... well, he didn’t want to say it, but it was better to decide not to call her right now. The last thing he wished for was to bring trouble onto her shoulders, not when her life was already entangled in chains he couldn’t yet cut.
Instead, he typed a number... a number he particularly remembered from last night.
As he typed the number, for a second his fingers hovered over the calling symbol before pressing down. His breath slowed, heart beating hard against his ribs, as though even the phone knew the weight of this choice.
...Beep
....Beep
~Ring~Ring~
The ring went on for a few seconds before, accepting the call, Leo hesitantly said, "Hello?"
"Who is it?" A man’s voice echoed from it.
Leo gulped before steadying his heart and asked, "My name is Leo, Sir." His words came out formal, almost reverent, as though he already knew he was speaking to someone dangerous.
"Oh? Leo? I didn’t expect you to call me."
Hearing those words, Leo blinked in confusion. His tone utterly changed, and for a second, Leo wondered who he was talking to.
Was this truly the man he sought—or someone who already knew too much about the previous Leo?
Maybe that man didn’t expect him to call this late?
Leo wasn’t sure, but still, "So... what happened?" His voice carried a mix of hesitation and urgency.
"What do you mean?" The man’s voice grew sharp, his tone holding both confusion and suspicion.
Leo could almost hear the frown shaping on his face through the line.
Leo gulped, the words stuck in his throat before finally forcing themselves out, "I mean... sigh... Is Valra alright?" His chest tightened as he spoke her name.
"Valra? ... Hmm... Leo?" The voice paused, sounding almost thoughtful now, as if measuring him.
"Yes?" Leo answered quickly.
Leo had a confused expression, the tone on the other side suddenly turned neutral and,
...BEEP!
The call was cut.
Leo blinked in confusion. "What the heck?" he muttered, frowning deeply before redialing. The ring echoed endlessly in his ear until it was abruptly cut off again.
Leo called again, but this time... the call was blocked.
Leo’s frown deepened, "What the...?" His voice dropped into frustration.
Utterly confused by the man’s sudden shift, Leo tried to call Valra directly, but for some reason... his call just kept ringing with no answer.
Leo’s face turned worried, the unease carving itself deeper with every unanswered tone. He wondered if something had happened to Valra.
His face grew pale, but then he remembered something he had just received. "Maybe I could help her," he muttered, eyes lowering to the pouch in his hand.
The white stone gleamed faintly—it could heal her fully.
If things were truly difficult, if she was in danger, he could use it. After all, it was his responsibility for what had happened to her.
With that hope stirring within him, he couldn’t help but feel a fragile relief knowing he held the white stone—a stone that could mend Valra without leaving a single wound.
But for that... he needed to see her.
He immediately turned in the direction of her house and walked with quickening steps.
Soon, he reached her home.
He pressed the doorcam, but there was no answer. He pressed it again, and again... but there was no sound, no movement, no voice returning his call.
"Maybe nobody is inside?" He frowned, tilting his head thoughtfully. Just as he lowered his gaze with a defeated expression, preparing to walk away—
Flash~
A sudden burst of light flared from the house, stabbing into his eyes. Leo flinched, the corner of his gaze catching movement. His head snapped back toward the gate, eyes narrowing when he saw a strange glow shifting within the house’s walls.
Something was moving in there.
He frowned deeply before glancing around the gate. A small security camera hung near the side, its red light blinking faintly.
Leo lowered himself, breath steadying, and carefully slipped past its range. His steps were quiet and calculated. He moved toward the far side of the wall, the place where no eyes could see.
There, crouched low against the stone, he inhaled deeply, every muscle in his body coiled tight... The mana moved to his legs and,
Thud!
He kicked the ground as he jumped almost the height of a pine tree before landing inside the ground.
Thuck~
He rolled slightly before standing up, dusting his clothes, his breath steadying as he glanced back at the wall whose top was covered with broken glass and spikes.
Man, these powers of his sometimes made him wonder if they were truly a blessing or a curse.
With an amused expression, he walked toward the house. Since he hadn’t seen any kind of dogs around, he casually strode across the yard before finally reaching the house.
He glanced around, making sure there were no cameras or anything hidden watching him.
He looked at the door and clicked his tongue. He hadn’t brought his tools, so opening it the normal way would be difficult.
"Hmm... what should I do now?" he muttered with a thoughtful expression as he touched the doorknob, running his fingers slowly over the cold metal, trying to find some weakness, some way in without breaking it.
Thud!
Leo blinked in surprise... the door wasn’t locked at all?