Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Sword Saint's Aide
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Sword Saint's aide.
Pandor.
Leyzon forced a smile as he faced the still furry man.
For some reason, he kept running into Pandor everywhere he went, as if they shared some kind of bond.
"Well, well, we keep bumping into each other! Fate runs deep, doesn't it?"
Pandor expressed his delight in the same vein.
"Come to think of it, I still don't know your name..."
They hadn't even exchanged proper introductions yet.
Pandor held a high position in the Pioneer Association.
He could easily look up someone like Leyzon.
"I'm Leyzon of the Steel Wolf Guild."
No point hiding it here—it would only look suspicious.
Pandor tilted his head at Leyzon's words.
"Oh, right. It's embarrassing we haven't done this sooner. Leyzon! I'll remember that properly now."
"Thank you."
'You don't have to remember me at all.'
Pandor viewed Leyzon quite favorably.
It was thanks to helping him out before.
Leyzon, sensing this, decided to pry some information out of him while he had the chance.
'Might as well make the most of it.'
True to his positive nature, Leyzon turned the crisis into an opportunity.
"Pandor, since I see you here, may I ask— is the Sword Saint nearby as well?"
Leyzon had already learned that the Sword Saint was heading to Insolent Plateau.
He knew, but asked to confirm.
"Haha, spot on. He's close by."
'Damn it.'
Leyzon managed his expression as best he could.
According to Rafila, the Sword Saint had gone to Insolent Plateau.
So why was he in this village?
'Maybe he was just en route and hasn't arrived yet?'
Rafila had only heard the destination.
He clearly hadn't pinpointed the exact location.
Still, he'd informed Leyzon since he was heading there anyway.
Leyzon was always grateful for Rafila's diligence.
But today, it stung a little.
Even so, Leyzon wasn't one to falter.
He kept the smile on his face.
"I see. The famous Sword Saint in a remote village like this. How intriguing."
"He's always busy, you know. He had business to the south and spotted a problem on the way."
Pandor let out a hearty laugh.
"Can't ignore a problem when he sees one. Handled some official business."
Some guild must have gotten skinned alive.
Leyzon silently mourned the unlucky guild that crossed paths with him.
"Still, he seems more energetic than before, in a different way."
"Something must have happened."
"He found what he's been searching for all this time."
That thing he was searching for was right here in his arms.
Oblivious to this, Pandor laughed heartily.
"Thanks to that, he's been grinding through hero-grade dungeons across the nation to hone his sword."
Consistent madman.
Leyzon clicked his tongue inwardly.
He'd anticipated the Sword Saint growing stronger.
But touring hero-grade dungeons—where you risked your life each time—nonstop?
It drove home just how deep his grudge ran.
'That explains Insolent Plateau.'
There was probably a hero-grade dungeon there.
Those high-difficulty dungeons were few and far between.
His circuit would inevitably lead him there eventually.
"I see. Sorry for interrupting your work. We'll be on our way."
"Why not say hello to the Sword Saint while you're here?"
This guy.
He seemed to think he was doing Leyzon a favor by making a connection.
But to Leyzon, it wasn't a lifeline—it was a noose.
'I'm the one who blew off that guy's arm.'
The Sword Saint would be thrilled.
"Wouldn't that be too much of a bother?"
As Leyzon tried to politely decline, Pandor laughed heartily.
"Bother? What are you saying? Lord Begris isn't so narrow-minded!
On the contrary, when he hears you helped me, he'll look after you big time. Even take a shine to Steel Wolf."
The Sword Saint oversaw pioneer guilds.
If he favored Steel Wolf, that would be great.
But at the cost of Leyzon's head.
This wasn't going well.
His instincts were screaming.
Time to bail.
"Sorry, we're busy. Maybe introduce us next time."
Leyzon tugged Hanok along as he spoke.
"Y-yeah, we're in a hurry!"
Hanok caught on and chimed in.
With both Leyzon and Hanok refusing so firmly, Pandor tilted his head.
Offering a noble connection, yet they rejected it outright—what was strange about that?
It was puzzling now, but suspicion could follow.
Fortunately...
"Ah, ahem, I see. I forgot for a moment how the Sword Saint is viewed among pioneers."
Pandor knew the Sword Saint's reputation well.
He was a figure of fear in guild circles.
A powerhouse with the authority and skill to crush a guild if he exploded.
His infamous "training sessions" lining up major guild leaders were legendary.
Pandor knew this too.
So he didn't press Leyzon further.
"Lord Begris is a better man than you might think."
He just gave a wry smile.
As Leyzon turned to leave...
[Leyzon.]
Eiden's voice echoed in his ear.
Leyzon swallowed the sigh that nearly escaped upon hearing it.
"Oh, perfect timing!"
He'd been stuck with Pandor too long.
Leyzon glanced back.
A man was approaching.
Crimson hair flowing long, dressed in formal attire.
A stiff, unreadable expression.
And an oppressive aura like a beast.
Friend of the Bluebird Knights' captain.
The one who saw Syria as his mortal enemy.
Sword Saint
Begris Fernando
There he was.
Leyzon eyed the [Faded Dream of Divinity] at his waist.
The ominous energy emanating from the sword remained unchanged.
"Finished with business?"
"Yes."
The Sword Saint turned his head with that curt reply.
Their eyes met—his cold, piercing gaze.
In an instant, he scanned Leyzon from head to toe.
The sharp insight unique to the strong.
'This guy's stats have gone up.'
Leyzon also gauged the Sword Saint's level.
It wasn't a lie that he'd been clearing hero-grade dungeons nonstop since their last encounter.
And the keen aura radiating from his body felt different now.
He'd shaken off the dullness from inactivity and returned to his peak.
'If we fought now...'
Even at less than full strength, it'd be a fiercer battle than against that ancient dragon.
The Sword Saint's presence was that refined.
"Sword Saint, pleasure to meet you. I'm pioneer Leyzon. This is Hanok."
Leyzon flashed a disarmingly friendly smile before him.
Smile in any situation.
No one spits on a smiling face.
The bolder you act, the less they suspect.
"I see."
As expected, the Sword Saint responded with indifference.
He didn't recognize Leyzon at all.
Leyzon had half-expected this.
'I was wearing the black mask that day.'
The mask hid his appearance, and he'd only glimpsed his face amid the chaos of battle.
Besides, the Sword Saint's mind had been fixed on Syria.
No room to memorize Leyzon.
All he'd remember was the necromancer unleashing massive explosions.
Plus, Leyzon's level now was worlds apart from then.
An upper-tier pioneer at 11 ascensions.
Growing that fast in such a short time defied common sense.
If he wanted to hide his true power, he wouldn't have leveled up so quickly.
So the Sword Saint didn't even connect him to Syria's master.
Darkest under the lamp.
His enemy stood right before him, oblivious.
Knowing this, Leyzon hadn't bolted despite tangling with Pandor.
That would've only raised flags.
"Leyzon here is from Steel Wolf Guild. He helped me out once before."
Pandor praised him just as he'd said earlier.
"Is that so. My aide owes you."
"It was nothing. Just passing a message."
As Leyzon downplayed it, Pandor laughed even more heartily.
He seemed to like this humble type.
"Haha, Steel Wolf's been making good moves lately, haven't they?
Probably thanks to earnest young folks like him joining up."
"I see. Bright future for Steel Wolf."
The Sword Saint chimed in appropriately, as if accustomed to this.
At least his name would stick now.
Pandor looked at Leyzon proudly.
As if to say he'd paved the way for his future connection.
'Thanks a lot.'
Meanwhile, the Sword Saint decided to end the chat.
"Pandor, business here is done. Back to schedule."
"Right. Understood."
Thank heavens the Sword Saint lost interest in Leyzon.
Pandor exchanged goodbyes with Leyzon and strode off.
Leyzon watched his back, then recalled something.
'Come to think of it, Pandor must know my ascension growth is abnormal.'
He hadn't noticed yet, but he might eventually.
'In that case, before he does...'
Better avoid the Sword Saint as much as possible.
"Phew."
Leyzon exhaled and stroked Syria's head poking from his bosom.
She'd astutely hidden herself, reading his intent.
"Pah! Th-that old man's even more of a monster now."
Hanok, who'd been holding his breath, shuddered.
He'd felt the Sword Saint's strength indirectly.
"Yeah. Let's steer clear for a while."
Until the Bluebird Knights were resolved, total avoidance was best.
Besides, they were leaving the village on their own anyway.
Leyzon planned to wait out Syria's evolution.
But as the saying goes, one stroke of bad luck brings a string of them.
Two days later, with one day left until Syria's evolution.
Whoosh!
The late rainy season hit hard, rain pouring like a hole in the sky.
Leyzon's inn was packed thanks to it.
Good thing he'd booked it in advance.
He was eating at a crowded first-floor table when...
"Uh, um, Leyron, was it?"
"Leyzon."
Leyzon stared at the man who'd sat across from him.
A man with crimson hair, soaked like a drowned rat.
Sword Saint, Begris Fernando.
"Thanks for letting me sit."
For some reason, the man who'd left town was now sharing his table.