My Love Debts Are Everywhere!

"Hah… Hah… Hah… Damn it. Even after all these days, the wound still won't close."

Twenty kilometers from the Forest of Eternal Silence, a black-cloaked man with a disheveled appearance limped forward.

His face was actually quite handsome, but scratches on his cheeks and forehead had marred his looks.

His skin was pale, drained of color—as if he had lost a significant amount of blood. Wounds on his stomach, chest, and waist continued to ooze blackish-red blood that refused to stop.

The pain was excruciating, but he gritted his teeth and endured it.

That man was Guren—the one Zelda had thoroughly defeated not long ago.

At first, he believed the Evil God's consciousness would be enough to defeat Leon and annihilate the Elven race—but that belief had proven foolish.

Leon—that damn man—had turned out to be far stronger than he ever imagined.

After the war in the Desert of Chaos, his power had grown exponentially.

Whether it was the result of intense training or something else entirely, Guren couldn't determine.

In the end, the Evil God's consciousness was defeated, and he himself had fallen at the hands of that wretched Elf queen.

As he replayed the humiliation in his mind, Guren's fury surged, his teeth grinding loud enough to hear.

"Elf Queen, I'll repay this debt someday," he growled, hatred dripping from his voice. His green eyes flared with rage as he added, "And you too, Leon... Just wait! Once I'm stronger, I'll make you both pay a thousand times over!"

But even as he swore vengeance, Guren understood that getting revenge on Zelda—let alone Leon—was far from realistic. If he grew stronger, so would they.

He needed a way to surpass them—quickly and decisively.

"Maybe the Son of God from the Temple of Twilight knows a way to make me stronger," he muttered.

That man was the reason he was still alive—and even more powerful than before.

Had it not been for his intervention, Guren would've died at the claws of a wild beast. But he knew all too well—it wasn't an act of mercy.

The Son of God seemed to be orchestrating a grand scheme involving him—or, more precisely, the hero's destiny linked to him.

For that reason, Guren felt no gratitude. Instead, he planned to use the man's ambitions to his advantage.

After all, in this harsh world, only the strong have the right to speak—the weak are nothing.

With purpose burning in his eyes, he looked to the west—then vanished into the fading light.

...

The next day…

The sun began to rise, its warm rays slowly lighting up the world.

Leon stepped out of his room, planning to meet Elina before heading to the territory of the fairy race.

He already knew the location well and was quite familiar with the Fairy Queen and several other fairies. Still, bringing Elina along felt like the better choice.

It wasn't that he was shy—he just preferred having someone to talk to during the journey.

But he had barely taken ten steps down the hall when Zelda appeared from the left corridor, causing their paths to cross unexpectedly.

She looked slightly surprised, then smiled warmly and greeted him.

"Good morning, Leon. Have you had breakfast? And… are you heading out?"

Leon noticed her expression was as calm and pleasant as ever—almost as if last night's conversation had left no trace on her.

"Ahem." He cleared his throat, regaining his composure, and returned her smile. "Yeah, I've eaten. I'm heading to the fairy territory to take care of some things. I was actually looking for Elina. Have you seen her?"

"Elina? Oh, that girl's still asleep in her room. Just go wake her up," Zelda replied with a slightly embarrassed smile.

Elina was, after all, her sister and a princess, but lazy as a pig.

"Alright, thanks. I'll go to her room, then."

Leon moved to walk past her, but Zelda suddenly reached out and stopped him.

"Wait, Leon!" She called out in a low, shy voice.

Leon stopped, slightly surprised. When he turned around, he saw Zelda's face—usually calm and composed—now flushed as red as a ripe apple.

"Is there something you want to say?" he asked gently.

"Well…" Zelda bit her lower lip, looking hesitant. "Do you have time tonight? I'd like to take you out shopping. You're… not busy, right?"

"Shopping?" Leon raised an eyebrow, surprised. But he quickly nodded. "Sure. I don't have anything planned."

Refusing her would've only hurt her feelings—and Leon didn't have the heart to do that. After all, Zelda had always treated him with kindness.

"Yay!" Zelda's face lit up with joy. She even jumped a little, raising her right hand into the air.

But then she realized Leon was still standing in front of her. Her body froze in place.

"Ahem!" She cleared her throat awkwardly, trying to regain her composure—though it was clearly forced.

"Then, I'll wait for you later."

"Alright," Leon replied with a smile and a nod.

With that, he turned and walked off toward Elina's room.

Zelda watched him go, her eyes fixed on his back for a moment.

Once he was out of sight, Zelda quickly glanced left and right to make sure no one was watching.

Then, she slipped a hand into the pocket of her gown and drew out a small folded piece of paper.

Gently, she unfolded it. Written neatly across the page was a list of things she needed to do… to win Leon's heart.

"Ask him to go shopping—done."

With a flutter of excitement, Zelda ticked the small box beside the line.

But her smile slowly faded as her eyes dropped to the final line on the list: Night attack.

"Is this… really okay? What if Leon ends up hating me?" She murmured anxiously under her breath.

Although she had already expressed her feelings, Zelda still wasn't sure how Leon truly felt about her.

The fear of rejection gnawed at her. If he turned her away, she knew it would shatter her heart.

Yet as she stared at that last line, her uncertainty gradually gave way to resolve.

"Just like the three elders said… I only get one shot. Whether I succeed or fail, this will decide everything. So—I have to go through with it."

...

"Welcome, Fated One."

In the grand hall of the fairy palace, the Fairy Queen, Eliza, and a beautiful fairy named Sophia—Elina's contracted companion—greeted Leon with graceful respect.

Leon offered a warm smile and a polite nod. "Thank you for the welcome. I hope I'm not intruding."

The Fairy Queen chuckled softly. "Not at all, Fated One. We're delighted by your visit."

"Yes! We're so happy you're here!" Eliza added with excitement, her eyes sparkling as she admired Leon's handsome features.

Sophia stepped forward with a soft smile. "We meet again, Fated One."

Leon turned to her, his smile widening. "You're right, Sophia. It's good to see you again."

Beside him, Elina rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Hey, did you forget about me, Fairy Sophia?" She huffed.

Sophia laughed gently and walked over to pat Elina's head. "How could I ever forget you, Elina?"

In an instant, Elina's pout faded, replaced by a bright, innocent smile.

Then, the Fairy Queen asked curiously, "So, what brings you here, Fated One? Do you seek our assistance?"

"Yes, I do," Leon replied honestly. He glanced at Sophia. "More specifically, I need your help, Sophia."

Sophia blinked, surprised, and pointed to herself. "Me?"