"What did you say...?" The blonde boy's voice dropped, his eyes glinting dangerously.

Leo met his gaze head-on, his expression turning cold.

"Poor and an asshole. That's what you are."

He wasn't going to let anyone look down on them. Holding back in situations like this only invited more trouble later.

"You—!"

The girls beside the boy flinched, instinctively trying to step back, but he held them in place.Of course — even they were bought.

"Kneel," Leo said flatly.

"...?" The boy blinked, confused.

"You have a problem with your ears?" Leo's tone sharpened. "Kneel and apologize for looking at her improperly."

He didn't raise his voice, but the command in it left no room for negotiation.

"Improper?" the boy sneered. "Isn't that what she is? A slut. She's clinging to you because you've got some coin — but she'll be with me when I offer her more."

His eyes shifted to Lily."Isn't that right?"

The next moment, his words froze midair. His body jerked violently, eyes blinking in confusion — then realization struck.

"Huh—?"

The girls screamed and backed away. He was upside down, dangling by a thick vine wrapped around his leg, swaying helplessly in the air.

Leo had used [Vine Estranglement], though in a restrained way — controlled, precise, just as before.

He stepped closer, until the boy's inverted face hung at eye level.

"Still don't want to apologize?" Leo asked, voice calm and unhurried.

The boy struggled, twisting and clawing at the vine, but it didn't budge.

"You bastard! Do you think you can do whatever you want here?! I'm a Great Knight! A noble! Not like you— filthy commoner!"

Leo sighed and activated the vine's vitality-draining effect.The result was instant — the boy's face paled, his movements weakening.

"Not good, Leo," Lily said suddenly.

"I also want to have some fun." She extended her hand. "Give me your dagger."

Leo raised a brow but complied without argument.

The moment the knife touched her hand, her expression changed — eyes cold, voice steady.

"For stepping out of your boundary," she said icily, "this is your punishment. I belong to Leo. Only him."

Then she slashed.

Quick, precise cuts — not to kill, but to humiliate. When she was done, she stepped back and slipped her arm around Leo's, pressing close.

"Let's go. And… keep that vine in place for me, hehe."

Leo's lips curved. He glanced back — the boy's shredded clothes fluttered to the ground, leaving him completely naked.

His grin widened. "Looks like stripping me made you quite skilled."

He extended his hand, and three more vines lashed out, coiling around the boy's remaining limbs and spreading them apart.

"I'd use one more, but... not enough length."

The surrounding crowd stood frozen — silent witnesses to how an outskirts boy had utterly humiliated a Great Knight from the inner city.A hanging, naked display of dominance — and proof.

The boy's face burned red with shame, eyes watering, but before he could shout again, another vine coiled around his mouth, silencing him completely.

Leo turned away, his voice carrying coolly across the square.

"Anyone who tries to free him will face me next."

A collective gulp rippled through the crowd. None dared to move. He had dealt with a Great Knight like it was child's play — who would be foolish enough to provoke him now?

As Leo and Lily walked further down the street, no one dared make a sound. Word of the incident had already spread — about the man with a pink-haired girl who'd humiliated a noble.

Pink hair was rare; it wasn't hard to figure out who they were.

The district they entered next was cleaner, quieter. Leo noticed something curious.

Not a single person here bore badges marked with o or b — only i and c.

"So there are four sectors... outskirts, bordering, inner, and core," he muttered, scanning the emblems. "But their strength doesn't match. I haven't sensed a single Baron here — not even a Knight Commander. That's... not normal."

Lily glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

"The only thing not normal here is you," she said flatly. "Normally, people under thirty are around 1-star. Rarely 2-star if they're geniuses. But you? You're already there — and you dragged me up to the same level in a single month. Just what's your talent, Leo? Six-star? Who are you trying to fool? I can tell — it's stronger than mine. So, what's the real rank?"

Leo scratched his cheek with a sheepish grin.

"It says six stars for me, too. I guess there's... something more to talents than just what's written. Don't worry — we'll find out at the academy."

Lily folded her arms, giving him a dignified but clearly dissatisfied look.

By now, the sky had turned golden with the setting sun. They were about to turn another corner when a voice shouted behind them.

"What are people from out—!"

The boy froze mid-sentence.His eyes widened in horror, recognizing them instantly.

"Ahem! S-sorry for the inconvenience!" he stammered before bolting in the opposite direction.

Leo blinked, watching him disappear.

"Looks like you've built quite a reputation already," Lily giggled.

Leo smirked, rubbing his nose smugly."Of course I have. Saves me the trouble of being bothered unnecessarily."

His words carried the cool confidence of someone who'd learned his lesson the hard way.From his time in the army, he'd picked up one truth: Don't be a wuss. The moment you showed weakness, the bullies came knocking.Be kind to the people you care about — and ruthless to everyone else.

It reminds me of my days in the army...

Leo's gaze drifted, his steps slowing as old memories surfaced — his fallen comrades, and Max.

I wonder if he ever read that note I left before dying... It had everything — the bank details, the truth that I was an orphan. He deserved it more than me. At least it might've helped him retire in peace.

He shook his head, pushing the thoughts away.

Lily noticed the sudden change in his expression.

"What's wrong?" she asked softly.

"Nothing... just a random thought," Leo replied with a small smile.

She nodded and continued walking ahead, her hair glinting pink under the fading light.

Leo watched her back with a faint smile.

Yeah... this is a new life. A new beginning.

The moment he'd taken over this body, he'd accepted all of it — the boy's memories, joys, pain, responsibilities.

His gaze softened.Then he looked at Lily.

And love.

This is the least I can do — for giving me another chance at life.

---

A/N: The pacing will increase from now.

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