Grand Return System-Chapter 16: The Weight of a Promise

The Weight of a Promise

"Junior Brother Leon! I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you this time. My Secret Sword Summit is determined to win this Martial Meeting championship..."

Shera’s smug grin said everything. He’d already seen the future — and in that future, Leon lost.

Leon merely glanced at him, then turned toward Selena.

"Selena, your Guardian Elder Shera doesn’t seem to have much confidence in you," he said lightly. "You’ll need to cultivate seriously. Don’t disappoint your Guardian Elder."

"Ah..."

The call of her name tightened something in her chest.

Pressure surged in like a tide.

Leon had placed his wager on her shoulders — not just a treasure, but dignity. The honor of the Amethyst Summit Division rested there too.

If she failed... he’d be mocked again.

Her fingers curled at her robe sash.

"Teacher, don’t worry," Selena said, steadying herself. "I will work hard. I definitely won’t disappoint Guardian Elder Shera."

This wasn’t only her battle anymore.

It was theirs.

Shera chuckled lightly.

"Haha — then let’s see who stands higher in three months."

He clearly didn’t take her words seriously.

Leon’s eyes held quiet confidence. "Sure. Three months, then."

Mike said nothing further. After finishing his business, he and Shera drifted into the sky, vanishing toward another Division like drifting clouds.

Silence settled.

The mountains breathed. The wind tugged softly at Selena’s long white-silver hair.

And suddenly, she couldn’t contain it anymore.

She stepped behind Leon, eyes shimmering.

"Teacher... it’s my fault. Because of me, you angered Guardian Elder Shera — and you even wagered your treasure. I swear I won’t ever be so reckless again."

Leon turned, watching this snow-robed girl with tear-bright eyes... and laughed softly.

"Damn girl, who said I stood up for you? Don’t think too highly of yourself."

"Ah..."

She blinked — stunned.

So... he didn’t stand up for her?

Had she cried for nothing?

For a brief moment she felt helpless — then something inside her warmed instead.

No... he’s just saying that so I won’t feel guilty.

He was stubborn, sharp-tongued — yet gentle under it.

She smiled faintly to herself.

Having someone like this watching over her...

It wasn’t such a lonely path anymore.

"Teacher, with your personality, you’d never pay attention to someone like Guardian Elder Shera. You acted because of me. I know it. I’ll never forget it. Don’t worry — I’ll train hard and get a good ranking, so your loss won’t be too terrible."

Leon’s face darkened slightly.

This girl... we haven’t even fought yet and she’s already assuming we’ll lose?

"Stop right there. Remember something." His gaze sharpened, but there was humor beneath it. "The tradition of our Amethyst Summit Division — even when you’re wrong, you never admit it. Even if it kills you, stay stubborn. Don’t apologize so easily."

Selena: "..."

So stubborn?

And yet... somehow that stubbornness felt strangely reassuring.

Leon chuckled when he saw her bewildered look.

That ridiculous tradition... handed down from Respected Zeon himself.

What good could come from a man that unreasonable?

"Alright. Don’t carry this burden," Leon continued, tone softening. "Just do your best. Even if I’m embarrassed — what reputation do I have left to lose, anyway?"

Ten bitter years washed behind his eyes — the ridicule, the whispering, the label of "useless Teacher" that clung like frost.

But now...

There was a spark.

Three months remained.

Three months to sharpen a blade in silence.

Three months to let the world see what they had chosen to ignore. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

He looked toward the distant sky — toward the arena that awaited — and something cold and certain burned quietly inside him.

The future wasn’t decided yet.

Not even close.