Grand Return System

Chapter 317: A Temporary Pathbound Companion

A Temporary Pathbound Companion

Liking meant liking, and not liking meant not liking.

Anna had never been someone who could explain love with elegant words or lofty philosophies.

She only understood one simple truth.

If her heart stirred the very first time she met someone... if merely looking at that person made the world around her seem quieter...

Then that feeling was real.

That was enough.

To her, love had always been that simple.

...

"Let’s go," Leon said calmly.

His voice carried the same quiet confidence it always did. Without another glance toward Caelan Everwind, he gently took Anna’s arm and guided her away.

It wasn’t fear that made him leave.

Far from it.

He simply refused to waste his energy before the real battle—the fight for the Eternal Genesis Pill—even began.

The Tomb Battlefield had already become a tinderbox.

Every faction was watching. Every expert was waiting.

All it would take was a single reckless move for the entire place to descend into chaos.

Anna walked beside him without the slightest resistance.

After a few silent steps, she turned her head to study him from the corner of her eye.

"Aren’t you worried about his revenge?"

Leon looked back at her, then let out a quiet, helpless laugh.

"If you already knew he’d come after me..." he said, "...then why did you drag me right into the middle of it?"

A faint smile flickered across Anna’s usually composed face.

It was subtle—so slight that most people would have missed it—but there was unmistakable amusement hidden beneath her calm exterior.

"Isn’t that what Pathbound Companions are for?"

She said it with complete sincerity, as though it were the most obvious truth in the world.

"It is your duty to stand beside me, drive away every suitor, and make your place clear."

She paused for a heartbeat before adding, her voice carrying quiet confidence.

"You’re not afraid... are you?"

Leon stopped for half a second.

The corner of his mouth twitched.

...Who taught her that?

Seriously.

Come out.

I just want to have a friendly conversation.

Preferably while I’m holding a sword.

Since when was that the official job description of a Pathbound Companion?

The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it sounded.

And yet...

Looking at Anna’s expression, he realized something.

She wasn’t teasing him.

She genuinely believed every single word she had just said.

Leon pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"It seems," he muttered, "someone needs a proper lesson on what a Pathbound Companion actually is."

Anna blinked, genuine curiosity appearing in her eyes.

"Oh?"

Leon smiled—a slow, knowing smile that immediately made her wonder what he was thinking.

"The lessons will be thorough."

He raised a finger.

"Very thorough."

Anna tilted her head.

"What exactly will you teach me?"

"Everything."

Leon answered without hesitation.

"The rights."

"The responsibilities."

"The boundaries you shouldn’t cross."

"And especially..."

His smile widened ever so slightly.

"...the things you definitely shouldn’t casually dump onto someone else."

Anna remained silent for a moment, carefully studying his face.

Then, almost imperceptibly, the corners of her lips curved upward.

"So..."

She spoke softly.

"You’re admitting you’ll teach me personally?"

Leon hesitated for the briefest moment before giving a small shrug.

"I suppose."

"I’ll remember that."

Something about the way she said those four words sent a warning straight through Leon’s instincts.

A familiar feeling crept into his chest.

He had the distinct impression that, somewhere during this conversation, he had unknowingly stepped into yet another one of Anna’s invisible traps.

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Why do I suddenly feel like you’re plotting against me again?"

"I’m not."

Her answer came so quickly...

...that Leon became even more suspicious.

"...That wasn’t convincing."

For a brief moment, the cold atmosphere surrounding the battlefield seemed to ease.

Even with countless experts watching the Eternal Genesis Pill, the two of them exchanged a quiet smile that neither fully understood.

Leon suddenly realized something.

This arrangement, ridiculous as it was, had one undeniable advantage.

From now on...

Caelan Everwind would probably stop bothering Anna.

That alone saved him countless headaches.

Still...

Leon secretly sighed.

This woman really is dangerous.

He usually considered himself the one making plans behind the scenes.

Most of the time, the only victim of his schemes was Shera back at Celestis Academy.

But Anna...

She had casually dragged him into becoming the shield against one of the strongest young geniuses present.

She had done it with a perfectly calm face.

She’s even better at this than I am...

Was this...

...what people called a match made by fate?

Anna suddenly spoke again.

"I believe you can definitely defeat him and successfully get the beauty."

Her tone was sincere.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of mockery.

Leon couldn’t help laughing.

"You’re quite confident in me."

Leon couldn’t help laughing.

"You’re quite confident in me."

A faint smile lingered on his face as he looked at Anna, whose expression remained as composed as ever. Around them, the battlefield was still heavy with tension. Experts from every direction stood motionless, each waiting for the first person foolish enough to make a move. Above the old earth spiky turtle, the mysterious aura of the Eternal Genesis Pill drifted through the air like an invisible tide, stirring greed in every heart.

Yet for this brief moment, Leon’s attention wasn’t on the treasure.

It was on the woman beside him.

Quite confident?

His thoughts couldn’t help wandering.

Isn’t this actually a perfect opportunity?

------------------------------

Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining me on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragement really keep me motivated to keep bringing *Grand Return System* into existence. If you’re loving the Chapters, I’d love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps me develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to share!

With love,

Scoturn777

Creator of Grand Return System

--------------------