Leon's expression shifted suddenly after witnessing the abrupt change in Alicia the moment she saw her father.
To himself, he thought, "Hoh? Has changing the perspective of these children become this easy?"
While Leon remained stiff in his place, Alicia lunged toward the window where her father was looking out. The wild aura surrounding her vanished, and she returned to her normal self as if nothing had happened, completely ignoring Leon as she landed on her feet in front of her father's bedroom window.
She then hugged him so tightly that Albert almost choked, pleading with her to stop: "Ah, wait a moment... I can't breathe."
After a great effort, Albert managed to free himself from that suffocating embrace, saying afterward: "I missed you so much, my little girl." Alicia did not like those words; being called "little" stirred her annoyance, but despite that, she could not hide her happiness at her father standing on his feet once again.
In the midst of this beautiful family moment—which did not last long—Leon interrupted, saying: "So, am I to understand from this that you've declared your defeat?"
Suddenly, veins began to bulge on Alicia's forehead. She couldn't stand this; that bastard had interrupted her reunion with her father, and as if that wasn't enough, he had called her a loser.
Clenching her fist tightly, Alicia turned toward Leon, looking down at him from above, and shouted with a voice full of arrogance and irritation: "Shut your mouth, you bastard! Who told you that someone like me could lose to the likes of you?"
Albert tried to de-escalate his daughter's temper. Knowing her personality, he already knew exactly who had instigated this quarrel. Thus, he tried to silence her and then directed his speech to Leon, saying: "Hey, Mr. Leon, can't you just let this matter end here?"
Leon raised his hands, signaling his helplessness, and then said: "I'm not the one who started this fight, but I'm also certain that I am the one benefiting most from it. Therefore, I don't think it's in your power to deter me—or even deter her—from it."
Albert sighed after realizing the magnitude of the trouble his daughter had landed him in. He replied to Leon, saying: "Then, what do you want to end this matter?" Leon answered clearly: "Double the pay we agreed upon and an extra dinner meal. This is what your daughter and I agreed on, and I won't settle for anything less."
Upon hearing this, Albert hit his head against the window glass in a comical fashion, as if he had just received the greatest slap of his life. This left his daughter Alicia bewildered. What could possibly make her father react this way? Was doubling the pay truly such a problem for him? She had lived in her father's wealth and had never once seen him upset over doubling the wages of a worker or a mercenary in such a manner.
Immediately, Alicia looked at Christine, only to find him in a similar state to her father, tilting his head left and right the moment their eyes met. At that point, Alicia finally realized something was wrong. She turned to her father at once and asked in a panic: "Hey, tell me, what was the pay you and that mercenary agreed upon?"
Albert replied, speaking in a tone resembling an eighty-year-old man: "Ah, Alicia... you have learned everything, but you never learned how to be smart for a single day. I truly fear for your future if you continue like this."
These words were cryptic, but they conveyed a hidden message to Alicia: her actions had caused a true catastrophe for her father. This realization made her feel like a fool in the middle of the scene. She spoke up, annoyed: "What is wrong with all of you? How much did it cost to hire this mercenary? If he has threatened you, Father, King Regard Novaris will ensure he receives his just punishment."
Albert's gaze toward his daughter did not change; he said plainly: "Alicia, if there is anyone the King will ensure receives 'just punishment,' it will be us if we do not fulfill our vows to him."
Alicia gritted her teeth before listening to the rest of her father's words: "Well, because of this, we now owe this person two favors."
Alicia spoke in a hesitant tone: "What do you mean by two favors?" Albert replied: "We will have to fulfill a request for this young man, no matter what it is. That is the price for his arrival and his help in repelling the imminent danger facing us. And you have made us indebted to him for two requests now."
Alicia realized how foolish her actions had been. Her face turned bright red from sheer embarrassment, but she suddenly smiled confidently as if she had found a solution. She spoke loudly with a hopeful tone: "Wait a minute! The agreement is based on whether I lose or not. If I can defeat him in combat, it means he will withdraw his request!"
Upon hearing this, signs of terror covered Albert's face and took over his demeanor. He said firmly: "No! I will not allow this fight to continue any longer!"
Leon replied from below: "Hey, Albert, it seems you're in quite a predicament. Will you find a solution soon, or shall I go back to finishing my dinner while you think of a way out of this?"
Those words were exactly what Albert wanted to hear at the moment. He replied: "Yes, yes, give me some time. In the meantime, you can finish your dinner."
And so the matter was settled. Leon turned back into the palace where he had left his meal, returning with Helmud to finish it, while Albert remained in the midst of a family meeting.
Albert pulled his daughter Alicia inside the room from the balcony. As he did, a sharp groan of pain escaped his lips. Despite waking up, his wounds had not yet fully healed.
Alicia rushed in a panic toward her father, who sat on his bed clutching his side where bandages were wrapped; he was severely injured in that area. "Father, are you okay?" Albert replied while gently pushing Alicia away: "I'm fine, but it's you who isn't. Listen, let's end this. You must admit defeat; it's the best option for both of us."
Alicia replied after hearing these words from her father: "Is that all you're worried about now? Just a bastard mercenary?" For a moment, a look of misery did not leave Albert's face as he blamed himself for his daughter's stupidity and stubbornness. He then asked her: "Alicia, after fighting him, do you still think that monster is truly just a mercenary?"
Alicia hesitated before answering: "Fine, I'll admit he's truly strong, and that I'm no match for him when it comes to raw power." Then her tone shifted slightly, regaining some of its arrogance: "But that doesn't mean I'm incapable of defeating him. Don't forget, I am the Princess of Flames, destined to become one of the Great Baldaiz in the future."
Albert sighed at his daughter's words and replied: "You speak of it as if it's nothing. You haven't even joined the academy yet; how can you talk like that?"
Alicia turned her face away from Albert and said: "Hmph, you'll see. I will be nothing less than one of the Baldaiz in the future." Although Albert was worried about his daughter's arrogance and impulsiveness, he was simultaneously pleased to see her carrying such a grand dream within her.
At that moment, Alicia saw the expression her father was hiding—his happiness—and she smiled faintly, saying: "Fine, if withdrawing from this will put your mind at ease, then I will do it for your sake."
Albert became like a child shedding tears of joy at that moment. He hugged his daughter's leg while sitting on his bed, saying: "Ah, I knew you'd become smart one day! Truly, I am happy with your decision."
Albert was clinging to Alicia's leg in such an annoying way that she pulled it back forcefully, saying: "What's wrong with you all of a sudden? Stop treating me like a child! Next spring I will leave, and you won't see me for three years until I graduate from the Great Magic Academy, and yet you're still acting like this."
Suddenly, Albert's tone turned more serious: "Ah, right. There are only two months left until spring. I had so many plans for these two months." Albert then gritted his teeth and added: "If only it weren't for those bastard Golems, we would be in a better state."
Alicia placed her hand on her father's head as if trying to comfort him, saying: "Heh, it's okay. We will destroy those Golems, and then we'll be able to spend plenty of time together before I leave."
In another part of the palace, Leon was enjoying his food to the fullest, as if it were his first time eating: "Hoh, this is absolutely perfect! these stuffed pastries have the perfect texture, and this meat is cooked wonderfully as well. Have you tasted this salad, Helmud?"
From his words, one could say Leon was in true bliss alongside his friend Helmud. Meanwhile, the strange man and woman sitting across from them were in a state of shock after seeing the way these two ate. They began whispering to each other, and the woman said: "I heard that Dwarves are impolite at the dining table, but what is this human's excuse? Was he raised by a Dwarf or something?"
The man whispered back: "Human? After everything you've seen, do you still believe this monster is actually human?"
Their whispering dragged on, so Christine decided to intervene and lighten the mood, if only slightly. He said: "Ahem... this is Mr. Rain Samuel, the official in charge of the Northern Fiefdom under the rule of Lord Albert, Protector of the East of the Emirate. And this lady is his wife, Lady Lilia."
Before he could finish, Leon made a very loud, annoying sound with his mouth while eating. While Christine was introducing the Lord and Lady, Leon paid no mind to his words at all; even Helmud didn't look up, preferring to keep his mouth busy with food.
These reactions were a source of irritation for Rain Samuel and his wife, but there was nothing they could do. They had witnessed with their own eyes how he had wiped the floor with the rising star of the Emirate, Alicia, known as the Princess of Flames. Therefore, they could do nothing but keep their mouths shut and stay in their seats.
But Christine wasn't finished. He turned to Mr. Rain and his wife and began introducing the two guests sitting before them: "Ah, well, this is Mr. Helmud, the famous Dwarf known by the title 'Owner of the Iron Fist'."
Mr. Rain replied at this point: "Ah, I've heard of him. The greatest blacksmith in the Kingdom of Dwarves, who was said to have left his country and chosen to live in isolation after the Dwarf Kingdom split into two."
Helmud scratched his head a little and said bashfully: "Ah, well... I didn't think I held such fame among humans, honestly."
Then Christine resumed his speech to introduce Leon: "And this is Leon..." Christine didn't actually know who Leon was yet—where he came from, or what his true nature was. He was ignorant of everything, so he stuttered a bit when he reached this part of his speech. This did not escape Leon, who suddenly stopped eating and looked toward Christine, saying:
"Leon. This name is enough for me. But if you need more information about me, you can call me the King of Chaos, the Lord of Abyss Magic, or even the Last Player in Wonderland."
Leon's words were vague and their meanings unclear to those listening. However, Christine quickly changed the subject, saying: "Ah, well, since we've finished the introductions..."
For the second time, someone interrupted Christine while he was speaking. It was Alicia, who stood at the entrance of the hall and said clearly: "Hey, you! I'll withdraw this time, but don't you dare get too full of yourself. Next time, you won't even have a chance to run."
As soon as Leon heard this, he knew for certain that he had won the bet, doubled his pay, and secured an extra meal.
And in this manner, Leon concluded the evening.