Chapter 176: Miranda Reappears and the Issue With the Holy Sword of Zenith
"I didn\'t expect these girls to fall asleep one by one while I wasn\'t paying attention," Leon sighed, shaking his head slightly.
After breakfast, he spent some quiet time with Iris on the sofa, not noticing that Fiona and Charlotte, who had been playing puzzles on his bed, had already drifted off to sleep.
Eventually, Iris also fell asleep on his lap, prompting Leon to let out a small sigh.
"Maybe they\'re still sleepy because they woke up too early," Leon muttered, glancing at the clock, which showed 6 a.m.
Typically, his three daughters woke up around half past seven or eight before coming to visit his bedroom, so it was natural that they were still sleepy now.
"Well, it\'s a bit short, but I feel like I\'m enjoying it," Leon whispered to himself as he brushed their hair one by one, a faint smile on his lips.
He then pulled the blanket over their little bodies, and after making sure they were sleeping comfortably, Leon finally felt relieved.
"Seeing them asleep makes me feel a bit sleepy too," Leon yawned, stretching his stiff body.
Last night, he didn\'t get enough rest, having returned to the palace at three in the morning. However, he couldn\'t sleep now, as he had many matters to discuss with Liliana regarding the impending war.
"Alright, let\'s take a shower, then relax a bit, and meet Liliana in her workspace," Leon decided silently before heading to the bathroom to freshen up.
Ten minutes later, Leon emerged with a refreshed and energized expression on his face.
He then walked over to the sofa, leaned back, and took a sip of his now slightly cold coffee, trying to calm his mind while keeping his gaze on his three sleeping daughters.
However, he had barely started to relax when a woman\'s voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
"Master!"
Mid-sip of his coffee, Leon nearly choked in surprise upon hearing the familiar voice.
"Miranda? Is that you?" Leon asked, his tone tinged with surprise.
"Yes, it\'s me, master," Miranda replied gently in his mind, prompting Leon to release a small sigh as his expression gradually relaxed.
"Why are you contacting me again? Didn\'t you say you were going to rest? Or have you finished with that?" Leon inquired, curiosity evident on his face.
After Miranda had assigned him the tasks, he recalled her mentioning that she was going to rest for a while, implying it might be a lengthy period.
Yet now, Miranda had suddenly contacted him, leaving him somewhat puzzled about her intentions.
"No, Master. I woke up because I sensed a strange fluctuation in your body," Miranda replied gently, causing Leon to furrow his brow.
"A fluctuation? What do you mean by that?" Leon inquired, his tone tinged with hesitation.
*Whoosh!*
As Leon grappled with confusion, a speck of purplish-black light shot out from his forehead, gradually expanding into the form of a beautiful woman. She had long purple hair and wore a loose gown that draped over her curvaceous figure.
Startled by her sudden appearance, Leon\'s eyes widened as though he had just seen a ghost.
"Miranda? How did you get out?" Leon dumbfounded.
Miranda smiled slightly at Leon\'s puzzled expression, an impulse to pinch his cheeks crossing her mind.
"Did I ever say that I couldn\'t get out, master?" Miranda giggled as she settled down beside Leon.
At her response, Leon snapped out of his shock, finally nodding in understanding.
"Well, you\'re right," Leon remarked with a small smile before his expression suddenly shifted to curiosity. "So, what prompted you to awaken again? And what\'s the significance of the fluctuation inside my body that you just mentioned?"
Miranda\'s gentle expression turned serious upon hearing his question.
"Master, while I was resting, I sensed something strange within your body, prompting me to awaken," Miranda began, her eyes narrowing slowly before she continued, "Upon investigation, I discovered it\'s related to your connection with the Holy Sword of Zenith."
"Huh? My connection with the Holy Sword of Zenith?" Leon frowned, puzzled by her words.
"Yes, there seems to be an issue with your connection to the Holy Sword of Zenith," Miranda stated in a serious tone. "If you\'re doubtful, try to sense your connection with it."
The frown on Leon\'s forehead deepened, but he remained silent, closing his eyes slowly.
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, his holy power burst out of his body, coalescing around him to form a protective barrier that encased his entire body.
After a while, Leon\'s holy power dissipated, and his eyelids slowly lifted, confusion evident in his gaze.
"I can still feel my connection to it," Leon remarked, turning his doubtful gaze towards Miranda beside him.
He couldn\'t comprehend why Miranda insisted something was wrong with his connection to the Holy Sword of Zenith when he had just sensed their continued connection.
Miranda\'s expression remained unchanged upon hearing Leon\'s statement, her demeanor growing even more serious.
"In that case, try connecting your consciousness with it and summoning the Holy Sword of Zenith," Miranda urged in a stern tone.
Leon nodded and then pressed his index and middle fingers to his forehead.
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, a golden star mark appeared above his forehead, causing the entire space inside his room to fluctuate.
However, Leon quickly regained control, mindful of his three sleeping daughters on the bed.
Afterwards, he closed his eyes once more, mobilizing the holy power within him to connect his consciousness with the Holy Sword Zenith in order to summon it.
As a sword hero, the Holy Sword Zenith was his weapon, and he could summon it anytime and anywhere, regardless of distance.
Moreover, since gaining his powers as a hero last night, he knew that his sword was currently in the Holy Hall of the Three Heroes, awaiting his summons to his side.
However...
"Impossible!" Leon exclaimed in disbelief, rising from his seat with a horrified expression as he stared at Miranda beside him.
Moments ago, he had tried to channel his hero consciousness to summon the Holy Sword of Zenith, only to discover he was completely unable to do so!
What was even more incredulous was that not only did the Holy Sword of Zenith fail to respond, but his consciousness was abruptly cut off as he forcefully attempted to summon it!
Throughout his experience as a hero and the knowledge he had accumulated in his life, he had never encountered anything like this, leaving him utterly perplexed in the present moment.
Leon regarded Miranda with a serious gaze, silently seeking clarity on the matter.
However, Miranda remained silent, her expression contemplative, as if she were deep in thought.
After a while, she took a small breath, raising her gaze to meet Leon\'s with a serious expression.
"It appears my earlier speculation was correct, Master."
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A/N: Thank you for your support! Stay tuned!