Leo's golden eyes widened in horror. Her breath quickened as she stumbled backward, away from him.
"No… no… NO!!"
Her voice cracked with desperation. Her whole body trembled, fear carved into every inch of her expression.
"I… I never wanted this! I don't want to live like this!"
But Logen only stood still, silent, watching her collapse to her knees.
Leo lifted her trembling hands before her, staring at them as her tears fell onto her palms.
"Is this what I wanted…? For my sins… I've lost everything."
Logen walked forward again, his shadow falling over her. He placed a firm hand on her shoulder, his expression cold yet heavy with truth.
"Now do you understand? The weight of your sins?"
Leo bowed her head, motionless, as if frozen by her own guilt.
"Haa…" Logen sighed deeply.
"Sir Logen…" Leo whispered, her voice calmer now, the tears finally ceasing. "Is there… any way to destroy this curse?"
"Hm?" His eyes narrowed. His tone was colder than ice. "I have no interest in helping you, Leo. You were punished for what you did."
Leo's body shook. She gritted her teeth and shouted desperately:
"Please! Even if they're all gone… I won't be greedy again! I swear it! Please, I beg you—help me!"
Her body trembled as she stood, eyes filled with both fear and hope.
For a moment, Logen said nothing. His gaze dropped to the red carpet beneath his feet. His expression tightened, his eyes flickering with something unreadable.
But when he raised his head, his face twisted in rage.
"I already told you… I can't help."
Leo's heart shattered. Her face drained of color as despair consumed her.
"No… way…" she whispered, her voice trembling like fragile glass.
Leo's face was drenched in hopelessness when a quiet cough broke the silence.
"Ahem."
Logen's gray eyes fixed on her, sharp as blades.
"Tell me, Leo… do you truly regret what you've done?"
"Yes, I do!" Leo shouted, her voice trembling with desperation. She clutched her chest tightly as though swearing upon her own heart.
"I won't be greedy like before! Never again!"
"…Fine then."
Logen's reply was low, almost reluctant. He turned toward the towering shelves of books. His fingers brushed across the spines until—
"Ah. Here it is."
He slid a thick tome from the shelf and set it upon the table. Dust rose into the lamplight as he flipped through the pages with careful urgency.
"There has to be something…"
Leo stepped closer, her golden eyes quivering. "W-What is it…?"
And then, Logen's eyes lit with a rare spark.
"Found it."
Leo leaned in just as he turned the book toward her.
On the page, bold letters spread across the title:
[ The Reality Witch ]
Below the title, a shadowy figure was illustrated in ink.
"Reality… Witch?" Leo whispered. Her breath caught, her eyes widening with curiosity.
"She's the only witch known to break curses of this level," Logen explained, sweat glistening faintly on his brow. "She lives in the Rezein Kingdom. But… only a select few have ever met her."
Leo's trembling hands seized the book. Her face, moments ago drenched in despair, now shimmered with hope.
"A witch… who can break even this curse?" Her voice shook, but with excitement rather than fear.
Her golden eyes shone as she clutched the page tightly.
"Then if I can reach her—she can destroy my curse!"
Logen folded his arms, his voice deep and unimpressed.
"…If you can reach her."
"I will! I have to!" Leo's voice rose, blazing with sudden determination.
She looked at him with gratitude that almost hurt to see.
"Thank you so much, Sir Logen."
Logen turned away, hiding the faint twitch of his lips.
"Hmph. Don't thank me. I've no interest in helping you. Just don't think it will be easy."
"Eheheh." Leo smirked faintly, her spirit burning once again.
The next morning, warm sunlight bathed the land. Birds chirped overhead while the streets bustled with life.
At the great gate of Logen's mansion, painted white and striped with red, Leo stood with a small brown bag slung across her back.
She bowed her head slightly.
"Thank you for everything."
Logen stood tall, arms crossed, his face calm yet skeptical.
"Can you really meet the Reality Witch on your own?"
"I… I will!" Leo declared, her voice shaky but firm. "I have to meet her—no matter what!"
With that, she turned, her steps steady despite the weight in her heart.
"Goodbye, Sir Logen! When I return, I'll come back as Leo Julius Eros!"
Hearing those words, Logen allowed himself a small smirk.
"…Hmph. Fine then."
Leo's fists clenched as she walked away, her golden eyes narrowed with fiery resolve.
Even if I'm useless in this body… I won't give up. I'll carve out a new life. I'll take back who I was.
Her teeth grit with rage, her eyes glimmering with determination as her journey began anew.