The moment Lio regained consciousness, the first thing he saw were familiar faces gathered around his bed—faces heavy with worry they tried, unsuccessfully, to mask behind faint smiles.
Harald let out a long breath of relief.
"Lio… you're finally awake. You had us truly worried."
His tone carried its usual firmness, yet the tension that had sharpened his features softened, revealing unmistakable relief. The members of the team exchanged silent glances, as if they had come to an unspoken agreement: Lio was no longer merely a temporary companion. He had become something more.
The days that followed passed swiftly. The team resumed their missions, and Lio walked among them not as a fleeting guest, but as a true comrade-in-arms. Battles tempered them. Danger bound them. Their movements grew synchronized, their instincts aligned, until they fought as though they were a single body with many blades.
Before long, rumors began to circulate through the halls of the Guild:
A masked young adventurer leading his team through the most difficult quests without hesitation.
A name without a face…
Power beyond his years.
Within a single week, Lio had already reached Rank D—an achievement no one his age had ever come close to attaining so swiftly.
One night, beneath a moonless sky where stars shimmered like scattered silver dust, the team gathered around a crackling fire in the heart of a quiet forest. The wood snapped softly in the stillness, and shadows danced across their faces.
Harald took a swig from the bottle of ale in his hand, then turned toward Lio with a thoughtful look.
"By the way, Lio… how old are you?"
Noro chuckled lightly.
"Yeah, I've been wondering that too."
Meira smirked mischievously.
"I always imagined you were some short, grimy old man hiding behind a mask."
These scoundrels… Lio muttered inwardly.
Then he answered plainly,
"I'm twelve."
A brief silence followed.
"You're younger than I thought," Harald said in surprise. "You're even younger than Diara."
Meira laughed, glancing toward Diara.
"Looks like you've got a junior to take care of."
"Stop teasing me!" Diara retorted, though a faint blush betrayed her.
After a hesitant pause, she turned toward Lio.
"By the way… would you show us your face?"
Harald nodded in agreement.
"Yes, a little curiosity won't hurt."
Lio hesitated for a moment.
It's fine… they're trustworthy.
Slowly, he lifted his hand to his face and removed the mask.
For a heartbeat, even the firelight seemed to freeze in their widened eyes.
The beauty that stunned them was not merely physical—it was a quiet nobility in his features, a strange clarity in his gaze, a presence far beyond what his age should allow. Diara was the most stunned of all, as though she had forgotten how to breathe.
Meira placed a dramatic hand over her chest.
"Are you trying to kill a girl with that face?"
Noro let out a low whistle.
"You look more noble than the nobles themselves."
But Harald did not laugh. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Lio… are you from House Dainhart?"
"What?!" Noro exclaimed.
"Don't be ridiculous," Meira scoffed. "What would a Dainhart be doing in a place like this?"
"Enough with the jokes, Harald!" Borin added irritably.
Yet Lio's lips curved into a faint, melancholic smile.
"I apologize for deceiving you, my friends… Allow me to introduce myself properly."
He paused, then spoke calmly:
"My name is Lio Dainhart… the youngest son of House Dainhart."
Silence fell over the clearing. Even the fire seemed to burn more quietly.
"That's impossible…" Noro whispered in disbelief.
Harald's voice turned serious.
"What would drive someone from House Dainhart to become an adventurer?"
Without hesitation, Lio replied,
"I intend to reach Rank B… for a certain reason."
They did not press further. Despite their shock, they accepted his revelation more quickly than expected.
But Diara…
She understood immediately.
When he reached Rank B… he would leave.
Two weeks passed since he revealed his lineage. During that time, the team completed twenty missions between Ranks B and C, and their consecutive victories elevated their name within the Guild.
On that day, after a grueling mission that nearly exhausted them, Lio was officially promoted to Rank C.
His name spread further, and adventurers began calling him:
The Faceless Mask.
His magical abilities advanced at a remarkable pace—though he had yet to reach the Fifth Circle.
Harald spoke with unmistakable pride.
"I've never seen anyone reach Rank C in a single month. You should be proud."
Meira tilted her head.
"So this is what being a genius looks like?"
Noro laughed loudly.
"How can you be handsome, strong, and talented all at once? That's just greedy!"
Lio smiled shyly, then cast a brief glance toward Diara.
She quickly hid behind a strand of her hair, her cheeks flushing crimson.
Why do I feel embarrassed whenever he looks at me…? she wondered silently.
She did not yet understand the nature of her feelings.
On the other side of the fire, Lio muttered drowsily to himself,
"What's wrong with her? Is she sick?"
Meira noticed everything. Nothing escaped her keen eyes.
With a mischievous grin, she teased,
"Oh? It seems our little Diara is quite red today. Should I call Lio over to examine her condition?"
"Stop it!" Diara protested, grabbing Meira's arm firmly, while Meira laughed quietly to herself in delight.
That very day, the team set out toward a Rank B Dimas.
But what none of them expected…
was that this mission would not be just another battle.
It would be the beginning of a tragedy for which none of them were prepared.
To be continued…