VIP System

Ranna slowly started to open her eyes, her head still feeling light. As her vision cleared, she saw Leo standing by the wall, looking intently at the map. She blinked, her thoughts swirling with the memory of the overwhelming aura he had unleashed earlier. The sheer force of it had knocked her unconscious—something she hadn't experienced in years.

What kind of power is this? she thought, watching Leo with a mix of awe and apprehension. His strength was undeniable, but power like that could draw the wrong kind of attention. She couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling creeping up her spine.

Leo heard the groan and immediately turned to her, concern etched on his face. "Are you okay?" he asked gently, moving closer.

Ranna bent her neck from side to side, trying to shake off the lingering dizziness. The memories of the powerful aura and the overwhelming pressure it exerted came flooding back. She sat up, looking at Leo thoughtfully. "Was it you who defeated the Orc Lord?" she asked, already suspecting the answer.

Leo didn't say yes, but the look in his eyes was enough for Ranna to know the truth. She smiled knowingly. "What do you plan to do now?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"I want to move to the capital with Amanda as soon as possible," Leo replied with determination. "I'll register as an adventurer and start from there."

Ranna nodded in agreement but pointed out a practical concern. "You'll need money if you plan to live in the capital."

While she was talking, Leo handed her a small, brown square coin purse. It looked like a holder for a deck of cards. Ranna's eyes widened in awe as she accepted and inspected the purse. She didn't need to open it because the amount was displayed on the outside in an elegant, glowing script: 500,000 gold coins. It was a magic purse, capable of carrying a significant amount of coins based on its quality.

She gasped softly, recognizing the significance of the purse. "A brown magic purse?" she murmured, her voice filled with surprise and respect. "These are rare, usually reserved for the wealthiest families or government officials."

This isn't just a simple gift, she thought, her fingers tracing the elegant script on the purse.

How did he come across something so rare?

"Five hundred thousand gold coins? This is the maximum amount it can hold!" she exclaimed, still processing the enormity of the sum.

Leo smiled at her reaction. "Consider it an investment in the farmland and my way of thanking you for letting us stay and taking care of us."

Ranna looked at him, still in disbelief. "Where did you get this?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

Leo simply replied, "It was a reward from my system."

She smiled warmly, accepting his explanation. "A merchant will be collecting goods tomorrow to sell in the capital. I can arrange your departure with them if you want."

Leo's face lit up with gratitude. "That would be perfect. Thank you, Ranna."

She stood up, still feeling a bit unsteady but determined. "I'll make the arrangements. You go back to the house and tell Amanda about it."

Leo nodded, feeling a surge of excitement and relief. He left Ranna's office, eager to share the news with Amanda and begin the next chapter of their journey together.

It was already noon when Leo stepped out of Ranna's office. The sun was high in the sky, casting long shadows across the farm. He rushed back to their house and saw Amanda sitting on the stairs in front of the house. She was gazing off into the distance, her face serene but thoughtful. When she noticed someone approaching from the corner of her eye, she turned her head and smiled, waving as she recognized Leo.

"Hey," she greeted, standing up as he reached her. They both walked inside, and the familiar, comforting atmosphere of their home embraced them.

"Where have you been?" Amanda asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

"I was talking to Ranna in her office," Leo replied casually.

"Are you hungry?" she asked, already moving towards the kitchen.

"Yes, I am," he answered, his stomach growling in agreement.

There was a moment of comfortable silence as Amanda busied herself with cooking. The clinking of pots and the sizzling of food filled the air. Then, almost simultaneously, they both called out to each other.

"Amanda—"

"Leo—"

They stopped, looked at each other in surprise, and then burst into laughter. The shared moment broke the tension that had been building.

"You go first," Leo said, motioning for her to speak.

Amanda hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, "I recalled seeing you half-naked this morning."

Leo chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, about that... I was actually at the Orc cave."

She giggled, but the weight of his words soon settled in. "Wait... you were at the Orc cave?" Her playful tone faded, replaced with concern.

Amanda's eyes widened in shock. She rushed to his side, her hands immediately checking his body for injuries. Her fingers traced over his muscular frame, feeling the defined curves of his physique. She marveled at how much he had changed.

"When did you change so much?" she thought to herself, her mind racing with both concern and admiration.

"Amanda," Leo gently called out, noticing her lingering touch.

She snapped out of her daze, her face turning a deep shade of red as she realized what she was doing. She quickly pulled away and went back to cooking, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Leo watched her for a moment, then decided to break the silence. "I went inside the cave because I got curious," Leo began, his tone soft but serious. "I didn't stay long—just enough to see some sort of commotion. I heard fighting and saw flashes of light, but before I could process it, there was a huge shockwave, and I got knocked back."

Amanda's breath caught in her throat, her pulse quickening at the mention of the Orc Lord. She froze, her mind racing with images of the devastation such a creature could cause. "You were... in the cave? With the Orc Lord?"

Leo nodded, his expression growing more serious. "I passed out, and when I came to, the cave was destroyed. And I saw... someone else there. A woman who looked like a wizard."

Amanda's hands trembled as she processed his words, imagining the horrors he must have faced. Her heart pounded in her chest, her body moving instinctively as she stepped toward him, frantically checking for injuries. "How could you go in there?" she whispered, her voice breaking.

"That monster killed so many... I can't believe you—" She stopped herself, biting back the rest of her words as her hands hovered over his chest, searching for any signs of harm.

Looking up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of fear, disbelief, and overwhelming relief. He was okay—more than okay, he was alive, standing in front of her. A flood of emotions hit her all at once, leaving her breathless. She let out a long, shaky sigh, her body sagging with the weight of it all. "Leo..." Her voice trembled as she spoke. "I'm just... so glad you're okay."

Leo smiled, sensing the depth of her relief. He hesitated, then took a deep breath.

"Amanda—"

"I want us to live in the capital."

Amanda's eyes widened in surprise. The thought of moving to the capital had always filled her with a sense of dread, but now, it seemed like the right time. The capital... The word echoed in her mind, stirring memories she had long tried to bury. She had heard stories from other adventurers—tales of bustling streets, towering castles, and a life so far removed from the quiet simplicity of the farm. But she also remembered the danger, the cutthroat competition among adventurers, and the painful memories of loss that had once driven her to seek solitude.

What if it's too much? The fear flickered, unbidden, in the back of her mind. What if I lose him too?

But as she looked at Leo, standing before her with such determination and confidence, those fears began to wane. He’s not the same boy I met all those years ago. He was strong, capable, and most importantly, he was by her side. Slowly, the pain and memories that once haunted her seemed to loosen their grip, replaced by a growing sense of peace. The capital no longer felt like a place of danger and loss, but a chance for a fresh start—a new adventure, together.

Amanda's mind raced with memories—some good, but many filled with loss and danger. The thought of returning to a place where so much had been taken from her filled her with dread. She hesitated, her heart tightening at the idea. But then she looked at Leo, at how much he had grown, at how much he had survived.

Maybe... maybe it's time, she thought, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I... I would love that, Leo," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. But then a thought crossed her mind, and she frowned slightly. "But we don't have enough saved coins."

Leo smiled reassuringly. "I talked to Ranna about it. She lent me 50,000 gold coins, and I promised to pay her back, of course."

Amanda's eyes filled with tears, not of sadness but of overwhelming gratitude and joy. "Ranna did that for us?"

Leo nodded. "She also said she was making arrangements with the merchant coming tomorrow. We can ride with them on their way back to the capital."

Amanda's heart swelled with happiness. She nodded, unable to find the words to express her gratitude. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she turned back to the stove, continuing to cook. "Thank you, Leo," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "After we eat, I'll start preparing our belongings."

Leo watched her, feeling a profound sense of accomplishment and relief. The future that once seemed uncertain and filled with obstacles now looked bright and full of promise. He knew that moving to the capital was just the beginning of their new adventure together.