The tension was palpable in the room, two powerful presences clashed with each other forcefully.
Leona stood out in the luxurious room, she was a muscular woman, dressed in a warrior's outfit.
Her clothing didn't match the ostentatious furniture and the ornate tapestry on the walls.
She was a rabid dog in a mansion worthy of nobility.
But what stood out most about her behavior was how incredibly hostile she showed herself toward the mansion's owner.
It wasn't an irate hostility, in fact, her sharp teeth gleamed in a smile. There was no resentment in her eyes, rather, she seemed to want to fight again with the one who once managed to defeat her.
Baltazar wasn't so happily excited about the reunion. He looked at the woman with a murderous coldness, he wasn't pleased knowing she tried to murder his son.
The only reason he hadn't taken reprisals already, is that those actions Leona had committed weren't too far from what Baltazar wanted.
The man was also considering other things, like increasing the mansion's security.
He'd always believed his reputation was sufficient defense for his family.
Who would be so idiotic as to attack them?
No one, or at least that's what he'd believed until now.
Though he had a more personal reason why he didn't like the idea of leaving Lloyd with an escort.
His own personal experience.
He remembered how as a child he couldn't play normally, or even socialize, without having two companions at his side.
His entire childhood he'd dreamed of being free, he hated being watched 24/7.
But he never became free, even when he reached a level similar to a god on earth, the weight of the family business still weighed on his shoulders.
Chains that would never let him be free, and a future he didn't wish for his son.
However, he began to consider giving Lloyd an escort, or at least putting more effective personnel in the mansion's defense.
"Well, how about we calm down a bit, okay?"
The tension cut off suddenly, as if someone had burst a balloon and with it had carried away all trace of aggression.
"Let's leave Leona's lack of manners for another time, after all she's a beast, we shouldn't expect much from her," Alioth said, adopting the tone he used during business.
Leona made a face upon hearing that insult, though she held back, she was used to those comments.
Baltazar let out a small sigh, but nodded.
"Yes, let's leave it for now. Did you manage to evaluate my son?"
Upon saying that Leona's golden eyes shone with excitement, her cheeks had tinged slightly red.
"That brat has too much potential, our combat was wonderful," she affirmed, trying to control her emotions.
For her a fight was the most exciting and thrilling thing that could exist, feeling danger, exchanging blows, all of that was too beautiful in her eyes.
It was gluttony, it was lust. But it wasn't the same lust someone feels in bed, it was a carnal pleasure without a trace of sexual desire.
A primal instinct few humans experienced, in a form so intense that only a beastman could understand.
Leona had always been hungry for battle, and had always enjoyed these.
Something she felt even more than her beastman brothers.
And it wasn't her only sin, or curse. Leona was always hungry to fight, seeking a challenge, to the level she sought to create handicaps to fight with more excitement.
But when she had a real combat, she always wanted more, she was insatiable in that sense.
"Your tone is repugnant to me, but I'll take your word," the man responded with an icy voice.
One of the reasons Baltazar wasn't sure about using Leona, was because of the strange ritual Leona performed after defeating an enemy.
If she considered them strong enough, she would proceed to take their "seed," even by force if necessary; some had even died in the process.
Of course, he hadn't suffered any of that since he'd defeated Leona.
But it was still very unpleasant to have a woman with that behavior under the same roof as his son.
"Hey don't misunderstand, I'd never do something like that to a brat, the idea disgusts me as much as it does you, okay?" The woman hurried to clarify, not only to clear up possible misunderstandings, but because that idea was also an offense to her person. "That he has overwhelming potential is another thing."
The man's features relaxed a bit.
"You'd better," he said. "So, what can you tell me about Lloyd."
The woman rolled her eyes, if she didn't respect Baltazar she would have beheaded him long ago.
However she knew she'd come out losing.
"Well, that brat doesn't need an instructor, he learned on his own on the fly, he's very ingenious, more than you even," the woman said.
Baltazar nodded. It was never his intention for Leona to teach him anything, had he wanted a conventional fencing instructor he would have called another.
Lloyd needed to gain experience in real combat, and Leona was perfect for that.
She'd been born with a mutation in her core that prevented her from doing magic, in exchange, she'd developed an innate power: adaptation.
While aura techniques mostly don't require any overly complex process, magic is completely unusable if your core is mutated.
But sometimes, that mutation gives advantages.
In Leona's case, it was an ability very compatible with antithesis, where creativity is required.
Someone with adaptability becomes the perfect guinea pig to test that power.
"I'm aware, your only objective is to face him daily so he acquires combat experience," Baltazar explained seriously.
A big smile appeared on Leona's face.
"So you're telling me I'll be able to fight that brat daily?" she asked, licking her lips.
The man nodded, feeling some regret for leaving such a crazy woman in charge of his son.
"That will be extremely fun."
If Lloyd were awake, he surely would have felt a chill.