My Love Debts Are Everywhere!

Morning...

In front of a modest inn in the city center, Leon and Elina stood stretching their bodies.

"Did you sleep well, Elina?" Leon asked playfully.

Elina pouted and gave a small shake of her head. "No, Young Master. I didn't sleep well. The bed was too stiff, and I kept waking up during the night."

She let out a quiet sigh after speaking. Lysoria City was a border town that usually wasn't too crowded on normal days.

But for some reason, today it was packed with visitors from outside the city, filling up every available inn.

As a result, Leon and Elina, who had arrived a bit late, were forced to stay at a makeshift place—an inn that could only be described as poor.

The beds were hard, the service was lacking, and cobwebs decorated the corners of the room.

Throughout their journey from the city of Morvhal to Lysoria, Elina had always stayed in decent lodgings.

So spending the night in a place like this made her feel uneasy and out of place.

Leon laughed at her complaint and reached out to gently rub her head.

"Well, sorry about that. All the inns in the city have been booked by tourists from different regions," he explained kindly. "Anyway, the festival is the day after tomorrow, so it makes sense that people are arriving early."

Elina's eyes sparkled when she heard the word festival. "Festival? What kind of festival is it, Young Master?"

"The Bonfire Festival," Leon replied calmly. "The people of Lysoria worship the Fire God. Every year, they hold this festival as an offering. Since the celebration is quite lively, many people are eager to take part. There'll be food stalls and all kinds of entertainment to brighten the atmosphere."

The festival had originally been a solemn religious event. But over time, it evolved—blending sacred rituals with attractions designed to draw in visitors, such as food fairs, parades, and other local festivities.

The transformation worked. Nowadays, the festival attracts tourists from all across the region, eager to join the celebration.

Excitement and curiosity shimmered in Elina's eyes.

During her time in Rothinia and Morvhal, she had never experienced a festival or public celebration like this.

However, she had heard stories about cities where grand festivals were held each year.

For instance, the city of Atheris was famous for its Love Festival, and many other cities had similar yearly traditions.

So, hearing about the Bonfire Festival in Lysoria filled her with anticipation. She truly wanted to be a part of it.

Unfortunately, the festival was still two days away, and she and Leon had to leave for the Forest of Eternal Silence before then.

Letting out a soft sigh, Elina lowered her gaze, her heart heavy with disappointment.

Leon noticed her gloom and gently patted her head.

"Don't worry, Elina. Once we're done with our task, I promise to take you to a festival in another city. How does that sound?"

"Really?" Elina's sadness vanished instantly, replaced by a bright smile on her slightly chubby, beautiful face.

"Of course!" Leon declared, patting his chest with confidence.

"Okay~ I'll hold you to that promise, Young Master." Elina giggled, covering her mouth with her palm.

Leon just smiled and turned his gaze toward the sky, which was gradually growing brighter.

"Then, let's head out to the Forest of Eternal Silence," he said.

"Mm!" Elina nodded eagerly. But a question crossed her mind, and she asked hesitantly, "By the way, how are we going to get there? Are we walking, or will we take a carriage?"

The forest was about ten kilometers away. If they went on foot, it would take quite some time—possibly until noon or even late afternoon.

As for taking a horse-drawn carriage, that seemed unlikely.

Elina remembered Leon mentioning that most people feared the Forest of Eternal Silence and avoided it entirely.

So it was doubtful any carriage driver would be willing to take them there.

As if he had anticipated the question, Leon chuckled and replied, "Don't worry, I've already thought of a solution."

Then he crouched down on one knee and said, "Come on, hop on. I'll carry you."

Elina: "???"

A wave of question marks seemed to pop up above her head.

Still, despite her doubts, she said nothing.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body gently against his back.

Her big chest rested against him, causing Leon to clear his throat awkwardly.

"Ahem!" He stood up, holding her thighs securely. "Are you comfortable like that?"

Elina hid her face behind his neck, taking in the warm, masculine scent that lingered on him.

"I am, Young Master," she murmured, a silly smile blooming on her face.

This was the closest she had ever been to a man, yet strangely, she didn't feel uneasy at all.

On the contrary, she felt completely at ease—almost like she wanted to get even closer.

Of course, it was because the man carrying her was Leon. If it were anyone else, she wouldn't have allowed it.

After all, Leon was the Fated One—the chosen figure from the prophecy. Somehow, being near him made her feel safe.

Besides, their bond had deepened over the ten-day journey to Lysoria. By now, there was no awkwardness left between them.

"Great!" Leon grinned, eyes glancing toward the brightening sky. "Then hold on tight. You might fall if you don't."

His words left Elina confused. But before she could even process what was happening, a surge of holy power suddenly erupted from Leon's body.

*Boom!*

A streak of radiant energy shot into the sky, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.

Leon bent his knees and leapt into the air, disappearing into the wind in the blink of an eye.

Those who witnessed the scene could only stare, frozen in shock, struggling to comprehend what they had just seen.

...

Meanwhile, deep within the Forest of Eternal Silence, an Elven girl was running, her breath ragged and shallow.

Her body was petite, and her face bore the delicate beauty typical of Elves.

She wore a plain beige dress that barely covered her figure, which was just beginning to mature. Now, it was smeared with dirt and blood.

Across her back were deep scratch marks that had torn through the fabric, exposing her injuries.

Her once-lovely face had turned pale, full of fear. She kept glancing over her shoulder as she ran, as though something horrifying was chasing her.

"Is it... still following me?" she asked in a trembling voice, her steps starting to slow.

Exhaustion overwhelmed her. Her flushed face glistened with sweat, and a sharp pain throbbed in her chest.

Just when she thought she might be safe, a monstrous howl reverberated from two hundred meters behind her.

*Awooo!*

Her eyes widened in terror as her body trembled.

"No... it's still chasing me!"