Chapter 42: Goodbye Youngmaster.

Leon packed what was his own, the spell book that Ash had given to him, the gifts his mother had given to him, and a painting of her. He fixed it all into his box.

He looked around the room one last time and then spotted the book he had gained five years ago. It was the book he had gotten from the time they had destroyed the goblins’ nest.

"Whoa, I totally forgot about that book. It’s been so long now," he muttered before walking toward the book. He picked it up and tried to open it, but the lock on it refused to budge. He now recalled why he had dropped it aside and had forgotten about it.

"I’ll worry about this later," he said as he picked it up and tossed it into his bag.

He walked to his bed and sat down, opening the system menu. He had not looked at it in a very long time. He had gained abilities and skills over the period of ten years and had used them all, but he never really checked to see just how many that he had gotten. So now, before he left, he wanted to be sure of what he had inside his arsenal.

[Name: Leon Belmont]

[Race: Human]

[Awakened Abilities: Magic Steal, Magic Dissection, Affinity Devourer]

Affinities:

[Water: 20]

[Ice: 25]

[Fire: 15]

[Lightning: 16]

[Wind: 15]

[Shadow: 5]

[Earth: 15]

Special Abilities: Vampire Healing, Goblin Eyes

He looked through everything to see how far he had come, and he had come far indeed. His affinities had grown massively from stealing from beings with similar affinities. The increase he got was not great from one monster alone, but when the monsters were stacked and many, the numbers rose.

"I wonder how my magic stands against actual mages. Well, I guess I’ll find out now that I have to leave."

Knock knock.

He looked at the door, wondering if it was the guards that had come to escort him out.

"It’s me, Leon," he heard his sister’s voice from outside, Elanor.

"The door is open," he responded.

She pushed the door and walked in.

"Hey," Leon greeted her with a smile, and she frowned.

"Can you stop smiling for once? We are about to lose you for God knows how long, and you keep smiling." She clenched her fist tight in anger.

"I’m sorry, it’s the only way I know to cope," Leon replied. "I’ve never been anywhere aside from here, and I do not know what waits for me outside. I’m trying to keep my anxiety to the smallest," he explained.

"Then don’t go. Beg father for mercy and retain your home," she said.

"No, I’m not doing that," Leon said. He glanced at her hand and saw a paper there.

"What do you have there?" He asked.

"A map. It’s from Mum. She always told me about the place she had grown up before she came to meet Father.

It’s a section at the outskirts of the empire in Elden Forest where spirits dwell. She said she grew there and that if any day we had issues, we could go there."

She walked over and placed the map on his table. Leon got up and took a look at the map. It showed the entire empire, with Belmont at the spirit of the empire, closer to the sea. A few more towns and cities down and they would meet the sea.

There was a red mark around a forest, the Elden Forest up north-east.

"Mum grew up there?" He asked.

"Yes, she would have told you when the time came. You should head there, and when you arrive, show this." She pulled out a pendant tied with a leather rope. It was made of silver and had a tree engraved in it with care.

Leon took it. He looked at it for a few seconds.

"Father would be angry if he knew you are helping me," Leon said.

"You have not left the house, and even when you do, we have all agreed, the three of us, Scarlet, Mira, and I, that in whatever hidden way we can assist, we will. You are our brother, and we will love you forever," she said and leaned in, kissing his forehead.

Leon smiled and hugged her.

Knock knock.

"Seems it’s time for me to leave," he said as he looked at the door.

She turned around and looked at the door as well. She walked to it and opened it. Outside, two knights were standing.

"We have come to escort Leon out," they said.

She gritted her teeth when she heard them call him Leon. They had stripped the respect off his name and now dared to use his name carelessly, but there was nothing that she could do about it now. Leon was no longer part of the family.

"Get out of the way, he is coming down with me."

She glared at them. They all stepped back and allowed her to pass. Leon grabbed his bag and walked behind her. They made their way through the stairs and down to the path that led out of the house.

Standing there were his sisters, maids, and even butlers.

Suddenly, they all bowed their heads to him. Leon was taken aback, wondering what was happening.

"So long, Young Master," they all said at the same time with full reverence. He turned around to see everyone, and even the knights that had come to carry him bowed their heads as well.

"Come on, this isn’t fair," Leon said. "You all are making it so hard for me." He said and then bowed his head as well.

"It has been an honor to know you all."

After speaking, he walked to the door, but before he could open it, Tesha and Ezra rushed at him and hugged him tight, tears streaming down their eyes as they had to watch their own Young Master leave.

They finally let go. Leon bid his final goodbye and walked out of the door under the gaze of everyone.