Betrayed, I Knocked Demon Lord's Door - Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Caitlyn stifled a yawn, eyelids heavy with fatigue.
Leon was worse—teary-eyed and yawning every minute, still shooting her petulant glares to signal his displeasure over being kept in the dark about the extra class.
"I'm taking a nap. Do whatever you want," Caitlyn mumbled, too exhausted to argue.
'In any case, I did not have any reason to restrict you from coming to class with me or what,' she thought.
Leon pursed his lips and sighed. "Sleep on the couch. I'm leaving."
Caitlyn arched a brow. "Finally saw reason?"
Leon said, "Next time, you better tell me about your schedule changes."
"And if I don't?" Her laugh tinkled.
Leon smirked. "I'll have Arwen send me your entire timetable. Daily."
"...You realize that's stalker behavior, right?"
"Teaching assistant's duty."
With a huff, he stood and held out his hand. "Give me a spare key to the office."
Caitlyn stared at him and threw one over.
Since their first meeting, Leon'd been a curse Caitlyn couldn't break—like shadow to light. 'Sending you away was a temporary respite, meant a few precious hours of peace for me,' Caitlyn thought.
Leon caught the key and walked out without looking back.
Caitlyn stretched, watching his lazy swagger through the window before drawing the curtains. Then she walked to the couch to lie down.
'Maybe napping will help me grow taller,' she mused, drifting off.
The office fell silent, save for her even breathing.
Sunlight filtered through the fabric to warm the room.
Sometime later, the door creaked open.
Leon glanced at the sleeping figure on the couch, his gaze lingering on her delicate features—too ethereal for a mortal.
Clutching a newly bought blanket, he knelt beside her, breath held. "Drooling, too," Leon whispered. "Still insists you're not a teenager."
After a long, lingering look, Leon draped the blanket over her shoulders and kissed Caitlyn. Leon slipped out, locking the door behind him.
Leon was unaware of the faint flush that crept over Caitlyn's cheeks as her lashes fluttered.
"You're the teenager." Caitlyn murmured, curling into the blanket.
The Guild of Hunters is similar to the Hall of Heroes, the two organisations sharing similar structures.
Unlike the Heroes' eternal war against the Demons, the Hunters stayed neutral, hunting beasts and quelling unrest within the city.
The Guild of Hunters' building towered above Ekavine, ranking among the city's loftiest structures.
Its grandeur rivalled even the Hall of Heroes' central hall, a testament to its prestige.
Leon stood at the entrance, craned his neck to look up, then strode into the building.
The first-floor lobby bustled with activity, crowds streaming to and fro.
Among them were both regular folks and adepts. Most of them are here to post commissions.
Beyond the Human Alliance, Ekavine City, the Demons Territories, and a few small nations, many regions remained perilous. There were beasts, bandits everywhere.
Wealthy travellers bound for other regions often hired escorts from guilds like the Guild of Hunters.
Though Ekavine City glittered with prosperity, the world beyond its walls—and beyond all nations—was a truly post-apocalyptic era.
Still, compared to the true apocalypse caused by the Great Calamity over a century ago, Solaris has recovered significantly.
Yet the rivalry between humans and demons raged on, with extraterritorial forces like beasts constantly stirring chaos.
At the front desk, Leon approached an empty window. "I'd like to register as a Hunter," he told Saria Lowell, who offered a practised smile.
"Certainly, sir. Your citizen card, please." Saria answered.
"Uh..." Leon froze. He'd forgotten his citizen card wasn't ready. "What if I don't have one?"
Noticing his panic, Saria softened. "Have you registered with the Hall of Heroes? That works too."
"I did, but... I lost it," Leon lied, batting innocent eyes.
'Technically, I'm a ghost.' Leon mused.
Saria's smile wavered, but she stayed polite. "No problem, Sir. Many in Ekavine are in your situation."
"Without proof, we'll need to test your abilities for ranking. Minimum level required for safety. Hope for your understanding," Saria added.
"Sure, no big deal. Let's follow protocol." answered Leon.
"Please fill out this form." Saria typed rapidly on her computer. "Just name, age, gender for now."
"Alright." Leon scribbled his name on it.
Saria scanned the paper. "Just for confirmation: Leon Radford, 24 years old, human male?"
"Yep." Leon answered.
With a keystroke, Saria leaned back and called out, "Bob! Escort this gentleman to the testing zone."
"Coming!" A chipper teen pushed through the crowd, barely 5'7" but radiating energy. His delicate features screamed "noble's plaything.
Saria ruffled his hair. Bob turned crimson, squirming. "Stop it, Saria!"
"Still so shy—adorable!" She pressed a printout into his hand. "Take Mr. Radford there. Don't get lost."
"I've worked here two years! I won't get lost!" Bob huffed.
Saria grinned. "Still a reserve after two years? Study hard, get into Ekavine Academy, and you'll rank up fast."
Bob's ears burned. "I will! Next year, I'll be a Hunter for sure!"