My Love Debts Are Everywhere!

"Your mind was simply deceived by the illusion created by the surrounding mist, Master," Miranda's helpless voice echoed inside his mind.

"What?" Leon was stunned. "How is that possible? Why would I fall for such an illusion?"

He had made sure to stay alert and guard himself against any illusions. Yet, how could he still be affected? Was Miranda mistaken?

"That's the reality, Master," Miranda replied weakly. "You're lost in the illusions the mist has cast around you. Your mind was controlled by it, and you almost stepped into the swamp right in front of you."

Leon fell silent, his eyes fixed on the vast swamp ahead—spanning nearly five hundred acres. If he had jumped in, death would have been certain.

Even if he survived, escaping would be nearly impossible. The swamp's sucking mud could drag anyone down swiftly.

"Huh..." he sighed deeply. "I was really careless. Sorry, Miranda. And thank you for saving me. Without you, I might have died just now."

"It's alright, Master. No need to thank me. I did what was right. Just be more careful next time," Miranda's voice soothed him.

Leon smiled faintly and nodded. After disconnecting from Miranda, he turned to Ruri, who was standing behind him, still clutching his waist tightly.

"Ruri?" he called softly.

Ruri gasped, her eyes full of worry.

"Fated One? You're awake! Thank goodness..."

She exhaled in relief and slowly eased her hold on his waist.

Earlier, she had feared Leon might unknowingly step into the swamp ahead. Thankfully, that never happened, and her heart finally settled.

"Sorry, Ruri. I forgot your warning," Leon said, his expression conflicted. "The illusion felt so real—as if the people closest to me were actually there. It was terrifying."

The Dragon Ancestor once told him how he got lost in the Valley of a Thousand Whispers and nearly died.

If the Spirit race leader hadn't helped him back then, the Dragon Ancestor as he was now might never have existed.

At the time, Leon thought the Dragon Ancestor was exaggerating the dangers of that valley.

Keep in mind, the Dragon Ancestor was the only being who ever made Leon feel genuinely threatened—arguably the strongest on the entire continent.

Yet even someone so powerful had once been trapped in the Valley of a Thousand Whispers. It was almost unimaginable.

Although his strength seven thousand years ago might not have matched his current power, he was still the one who had fought the Evil God—his strength undeniable.

But now, Leon was finally convinced by the recent experience. His mind, which he had believed strong and immune to illusions, could still be deceived.

It was a valuable lesson, showing him that many mysteries in this world lie beyond his understanding.

"It's okay," Ruri said softly, shaking her head. "For those who have never entered the Valley of a Thousand Whispers, this kind of thing is common. But I was surprised that even you were affected by the illusion. Thankfully, you came back to your senses, and that's a relief."

Leon sighed lightly, rubbing her head. "That's because I was overconfident. By the way..."

His gaze swept forward, where only mist and dry, withered trees stood.

"Is the city where the Spirit race lives still far?"

"No..." Ruri shook her head. "We'll arrive soon—probably about two hundred meters ahead."

"Good!" Leon nodded. "Then let's go."

Without wasting time, they stood and quickly headed toward the Spirit race's city.

***

The city where the Spirits lived was called Selendria. It stood proudly in the heart of the Valley of a Thousand Whispers.

Anyone entering the valley for the first time would be shocked to find a city thriving in such a terrifying place. But for the Spirits, it was nothing unusual.

They had lived there for thousands of years—generation after generation. To them, Selendria was both home and final resting place.

Although smaller than the cities of the Demon Empire and Holy Orthodoxy, Selendria was still fairly large.

The city was well developed, with inns, restaurants, and other buildings.

This proved the Spirits were no primitive race—they had built their own advancing civilization.

At that moment, Leon and Ruri stopped before a tall city gate guarded by five to ten spirits.

Their skin was pale white—like Ruri's—so pale it seemed blood no longer flowed through their veins.

Like most guards, they wore armor. But unlike the iron or rare materials Leon was familiar with, this armor was made from something else.

"Could it be a new type of material?" he wondered.

As Leon and Ruri stepped forward, the guards stopped them and scrutinized them one by one with sharp, probing gazes.

But the moment their eyes met Ruri's, they all froze in disbelief.

"Princess? Is that really you?" One of them asked, astonished.

The others stared at her with equal surprise.

"Princess?" Leon blinked, glancing at Ruri with a hint of confusion. "Ruri, is what they say true?"

Ruri let out an awkward laugh, scratching her cheek. "Yes, I am the princess of the Spirit race—the Fated One. I'm sorry for keeping it from you."

"You..." Leon opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself.

He hadn't expected Ruri to conceal such an important identity. Until now, he had believed she was just an ordinary spirit, but she was actually a princess.

On second thought, it made sense—when two members of the Temple of Twilight had hunted her before, she had somehow survived despite severe injuries.

At that time, Leon asked how Ruri had managed to survive. She explained that she used secret weapons her father had prepared for her.

That alone made it clear that Ruri held a special and elevated status.

After all, no father could give his daughter self-defense tools capable of evading and surviving the pursuit of the Fifth Apostle and his subordinate—unless he possessed great power.

"Huh..." Leon let out a small sigh, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I'm really surprised by that, but it's alright. I'm not angry."

His words eased the tension in Ruri's body. She had feared Leon might be upset with her, but thankfully, that wasn't the case.

Turning her gaze to the guards, Ruri adopted a calm and regal demeanor—quite different from her usual cheerful self.

"Yes, I am Princess Ruri. Please open the gate," she commanded smoothly.