The Dark Extra: Awakening of SSS-Skill Demon Emperor Legacy-Chapter 76: Leon Seeking the Truth

On the surface of the S-rank dungeon, a flash of blue teleportation light appeared right in the corridor connected to the dungeon entrance.

Leon had come to escort Arnold, his two aides, and two other soldiers.

Arnold’s eyes opened, realizing he was in the hallway near the first floor. Leon put his teleportation token, having returned Arnold to the surface.

"You... do you even know what you’ve done?" Arnold asked.

"Tell me, Commander Arnold. What would you do if, one day, the Grand Empire invaded Caer Vireth?"

"Of course I would defend Caer Vireth, no matter the risk."

"Then I did exactly the same thing you would do," Leon replied calmly.

"That city has become the only place of safety within this dungeon, a place where people can live without fearing monster attacks."

"And the worst threat turned out to be from humans themselves."

"Are you saying that Commander Arnold is a threat?" one of Arnold’s aides asked sharply.

"Anyone who disrupts the city’s balance is a threat. That’s one of the city’s main rules."

Leon and Arnold continued walking until they reached the surface.

Arnold saw that most of his troops had already returned, escorted by Leon’s party. He glanced to his side—Leon was still nearby.

"What will you do next? Will you help us?" Arnold asked.

"My team and I will continue exploring the dungeon. And if we meet Agares, then yes, I’ll help you."

"Alright. That’s relieved me. You’re the son of Casper Thorn. I’ll place my trust in you," Arnold said.

The middle-aged man had no other choice but to trust Leon, even though he didn’t know that Leon and his party had actually let Agares go.

Agares had helped him once, and now Leon had returned the favor by staying out of it. Even so, Leon couldn’t bring himself to capture Agares—not yet.

Because Agares had saved his sister, Erika Thorn.

Anna and the others approached Leon, asking about their next plan. Since they had been inside the dungeon for two years, Leon decided to give them a three-day break.

"You can all return to your families. Let’s regroup here in three days."

"Got it, Leon."

One by one, they left the area, handing over their teleportation tokens to Leon for safekeeping. They didn’t want to leave him in a suspicious situation.

After they departed, Leon also made his way back to the city of Berdiver. After several hours on foot, Leon and his party arrived in the city and went to their homes to see their families.

"Sir Leon," greeted a gatekeeper.

He quickly rushed inside to inform Casper Thorn. Soon, the entire Thorn family appeared outside the house to greet Leon’s return. Erika was the first to hug him, followed by their parents.

"Thank goodness you’re safe, Leon."

"I’m fine. No need to worry."

"How deep did you go?" Erika asked.

"Floor 60."

"Floor 60? That’s amazing!"

Leon squinted slightly as he locked eyes with Erika. He already knew she’d been kidnapped and gone missing. Now she was standing right in front of him—after being saved by Agares.

Many questions swirled in Leon’s mind about Erika.

"Erika."

"Yes, brother?" Erika responded, smiling.

"I need to talk to you."

Erika paused, glancing at their parents. They nodded, assuming Leon just wanted to spend time with his sister—after all, he loved her more than even their parents did.

Leon led Erika into his room. The woman swallowed nervously; Leon’s expression was serious and unreadable.

She had no idea what he wanted to talk about.

Inside the room—which had been kept tidy and clean during his absence—Leon locked the door and put away his spear.

He opened the food cabinet and pulled out a bottle of wine. Talking to Erika about this needed to be accompanied by alcohol.

Not because it tasted good—but because it was an effective way to make someone speak the truth.

At first, Leon asked Erika about what she’d been up to while he was gone. Of course, he kept refilling her wine glass every time it was empty.

Only Erika drank heavily—Leon barely drank at all, so she wouldn’t get suspicious.

Half the bottle was gone, and Erika’s face was flushed. She slumped back on the sofa, clearly drunk.

"Now I’ll pour you more—if you start telling the truth. Deal?" Leon asked.

"Mhm," Erika muttered, dazed.

"Is it true Agares saved you?"

"Tch! I hate him. He slapped me back in the dungeon, said I was stupid and everything."

"But did he save you?"

"Yes! Why are you being so annoying? Just pour the wine already."

’So, Agares wasn’t lying,’ Leon thought.

"And what were you doing in the dungeon?"

"I was looking for you. You were gone so long. Father was worried, you know!"

"Before that... how did you return home? I heard you were kidnapped. Did you escape? Did someone rescue you?" Leon asked, firing off questions rapidly—frustrating Erika.

"Let me answer one at a time! But pour the wine first!"

As Leon reached for the wine, he stopped and pulled it back. He had already said she had to answer first.

Erika clicked her tongue in irritation, folding her arms and looking away, her flushed face still red.

"I was kidnapped, but Agares was the one who saved me."

"What?!"

"He found me tied up in some old cabin in the woods. He brought me all the way to the city gates."

"Agares saved you?"

"Yes. I hate his cold and cruel attitude. But as a savior, he helped me a lot."

’Agares saved her? What actually happened? Were the rumors wrong? Is the kingdom targeting him just because of his saber job?’ Leon wondered, confused.

"Ugh, this is taking too long!"

Erika snatched the wine bottle from Leon and drank straight from it.

Leon squinted—there was no point asking her any more questions. She was about to pass out from the alcohol.

Sure enough, moments later, Erika was sound asleep, hugging the empty wine bottle to her breast.

Leon smiled. He picked her up and laid her gently on the bed so she could sleep peacefully.

’Erika means nothing to him,’ Leon thought.

’Did he save her only after finding out she was a noble’s daughter?’

’That doesn’t matter. He still saved Erika, even though he risked his life doing it.’

Leon stood in silence, gazing out the window toward the front yard of the Thorn Mansion.

There were still many unanswered questions about Agares’s identity. Erika had revealed his true personality, but Leon still needed absolute proof.

"I have to find out what really happened to Agares."

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m