Chapter 196
Chapter 196
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: Strange Encounter (1)
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After that, Demian went with Liam Bluegreen to visit his parents.
"You're going to the Empire?"
His father's reaction wasn't great. His mother felt the same.
"His Highness asked for it, so there's no helping it, but..."
"It's only been a short time since that chaos at the festival. Do you really have to go?"
Viscount Haksen and his wife seemed to want Demian to rest at home for the time being.
It had only been a few days since he nearly died caught up in the battle of the transcendents.
"Father, Mother. This isn't just anything—it's the Helian Tournament. If not now, who knows when I'll get another chance to participate."
The Helian Tournament had a restriction: only those under 25 could enter.
Masters could participate up to age 40, however, since it was such a difficult realm to reach.
"I understand how you feel, but..."
The Helian Tournament was the largest knight tournament on the continent, so every boy dreamed from childhood of winning it to gain fame and popularity.
Viscount Haksen remembered having those dreams himself as a boy, so he couldn't bring himself to flatly refuse Demian.
"Very well. I permit it."
After much deliberation, his father allowed Demian's participation in the Helian Tournament.
"But I have one request."
"What is it?"
"This time, please... please go and come back without causing any trouble."
At his father's earnest plea, Demian replied as if he had no idea what he meant.
"I don't know what you're talking about. 'This time'? I've always been well-behaved."
Viscount Haksen sighed and muttered.
"If only he didn't talk like that, he wouldn't be so infuriating."
* * *
With his father's permission secured, there was nothing left to hesitate about.
Demian headed to the Ryanbloom Marquis household with Liam Bluegreen.
"Brother!"
Perhaps having received word in advance, Michael came out beyond the castle gates to greet Demian.
"I'm sorry I haven't visited often!"
"No need to apologize. We're both busy."
"I heard you reached High Class... The rumors were true! That's incredible! As expected of you, brother!"
"You're not far off yourself."
The last time Demian had seen Michael, he had just entered Middle Class.
Since then, he must have trained diligently, as he was now at the cusp of Middle Class.
"I'm still sorely lacking."
At Demian's praise, Michael sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.
"Sorely lacking? One more step and you're there."
"Really?"
Michael's face lit up. But he soon frowned again.
He had spotted Veronica Sanchez standing behind Demian.
"What are you doing here?"
"What do you mean? I didn't want to come either. He dragged me along."
Veronica pointed at Demian angrily.
Michael turned to Demian, as if questioning whether it was true.
"She's right. Sir Liam said they were short on participants, so I brought her."
"I had no idea the circumstances were like that. Veronica! If Brother brought you, you should be grateful instead of acting so insolent!"
At Michael's rebuke, Veronica made a dumbfounded expression.
"Keep that up, and you'll die by my hand."
"Try it if you can. I haven't trained so sloppily that I'd lose to an amateur like you."
"Impressive. Shall we test that, then?"
Veronica gripped her twin swords. Michael seized the greatsword on his back.
The killing intent emanating from the two clashed in the air. Tension hung thick.
"If you fight, both of you die by my hand."
But at Demian's single word, they immediately let go of their sword hilts.
"Michael, how can you, a knight, fall for such provocation?"
"My apologies."
"And Veronica, didn't you say if I kill someone, you'll die by my hand?"
"Ah, no... I didn't mean I'd really kill you..."
With Demian stepping in, both of them shrank back.
"Impressive. To have those troublemakers so firmly under control."
Liam Bluegreen watched in admiration.
Michael Ryanbloom was a lone wolf even his father, the marquis, couldn't handle, and Veronica Sanchez was no one to listen to others.
Yet both were at a loss from Demian's one word.
"Sir Liam, shall we depart now?"
"Very well. Let's head out."
The four, including Demian, boarded the carriage.
Escorted by the troops sent from the kingdom, the carriage set off for the Empire.
* * *
The journey was extremely comfortable.
Demian's previous travels had been solo, often requiring him to camp outdoors.
But this trip had a large group and flew the banner of Apple Kingdom.
"Isn't that Sir Liam? Heading to the Empire and looking for a place to rest? Come to my castle!"
"The Helian Tournament...! You're going to bring glory to the kingdom! I'll gladly open my territory to you."
Thanks to that, they stayed in nobles' territories instead of camping.
A few days later, the group crossed Apple Kingdom's border and arrived in the neighboring Dufplin Kingdom.
"Halt."
Midway through the border crossing, Dufplin Kingdom soldiers stopped the group.
"Where do you hail from?"
The soldiers spoke with wary faces. There were three escort knights and over ten soldiers.
It was only natural to be cautious with such a force.
"We're from Apple Kingdom, heading to the Empire for the Helian Tournament."
At the knight's words, the soldiers' eyes widened.
They glanced at each other and whispered among themselves.
'The reaction is odd.'
Apple Kingdom shared a border with Dufplin Kingdom and had frequent exchanges, making it a familiar nation.
Yet the soldiers were overly shocked at the mention of Apple Kingdom.
"...Please wait a moment."
One soldier entered the gate. Soon after, the guard captain in charge of the checkpoint appeared.
"Do you have a travel permit?"
At the guard captain's question, the escort knight handed over the permit. It had been obtained in advance by the king sending someone to Dufplin Kingdom.
The guard captain fetched a monocle and examined the document. It seemed to be a magic tool to verify the seal on the permit.
"It's verified. You may proceed."
At the guard captain's words, the soldiers flung open the gates. The group passed through.
It was as they passed the gates. Demian overheard the guard captain speaking to the soldiers.
—Knights from Apple Kingdom have arrived. Contact him immediately.
From the soldiers' initial reaction to the guard captain's words, suspicious events were piling up.
Demian spoke to Liam Bluegreen, seated across from him.
"Sir Liam, the atmosphere feels off."
"You think so too?"
Sure enough, Liam Bluegreen shared Demian's thoughts.
"It's strange. Apple and Dufplin Kingdoms have friendly relations."
Liam Bluegreen stroked his chin, deep in thought.
"Just in case, let's stay vigilant."
"Understood."
Contrary to Demian's worries, the group encountered no incidents afterward.
Far from incidents, they only received aid.
Just like in Apple Kingdom, they could use Dufplin nobles' territories.
It was as they were about to leave Dufplin Kingdom.
Night had fallen deep, so the group decided to spend the night at a nearby noble's.
"You're from Apple Kingdom! Come in!"
This time too, the noble readily agreed. The group unpacked at the noble's castle.
"You must be tired from the long journey, so we must hunt some wild boar today."
The lord was an extremely hearty man.
Not only did he not mind the sudden visit, but he even prepared a lavish banquet.
Such hospitality was rare even in Apple Kingdom. The group expressed thanks and enjoyed the food and drink.
"Brother, try this dish too."
Michael tended only to Demian, not eating himself. Whenever Demian's plate emptied, he fetched more food.
"Pathetic."
Veronica muttered that and focused on her meal.
She sliced the meat on her plate and brought it to her mouth. The motions were so refined they exuded elegance.
Unlike her beggar-like attire, her dining etiquette was perfectly ingrained.
'Could she be from nobility?'
Come to think of it, Veronica handled her mana with remarkable purity. That meant her mana cultivation method was of high caliber.
She might be from a knightly family.
As Demian pondered this.
"My lord, a moment..."
The butler approached the lord and whispered something. The noble's eyes widened.
"Is that true?"
"Yes, it is."
"Good heavens... For that person to visit my territory."
The lord rose flustered from his seat. He addressed the group.
"My apologies during the meal. I wish to seat one more guest here."
The group all looked at the noble. Liam Bluegreen asked with a puzzled face.
"What do you mean all of a sudden?"
"I know it's rude. But such a precious guest has arrived..."
Liam Bluegreen wore a confused expression.
"I'll explain after bringing them in."
The lord gestured. The butler opened the banquet hall doors.
Two men entered the hall.
One middle-aged, one young.
Father and son, perhaps, as their faces were identical. Both had black hair and blue eyes. Broad nose bridges and thin lips.
The lord approached them closely. The middle-aged man spoke.
"Sorry for showing up unannounced."
"Not at all! No need to think that way! It's a great honor for me."
"That's a relief."
Despite his words, the man's expression was exceedingly arrogant. The earlier exchange seemed mere polite formality.
"Those the guests from Apple Kingdom?"
The middle-aged man glanced at Demian and the group seated in the hall. The lord nodded.
"Will you introduce me to them?"
"Of course!"
The lord nodded with a beaming smile, as if it were the greatest honor.
"Everyone, pay your respects! This is the pillar of Dufplin Kingdom, the greatest idol of knights, the most brilliantly shining sword..."
After a string of florid praises, the man's name emerged.
"Sir Javier Silva, of Master Class!"
* * *
Demian didn't know every Master.
He only remembered those he'd met who left an impression.
But Javier Silva was different. Though he'd never met him personally, he remembered him.
'To think I'd encounter humanity's traitor here.'
During the Doomsday War, some Masters abandoned their duty to protect their nations and sided with Dorgo.
Because of that, the Empire and the human alliance suffered massive losses, and some kingdoms fell.
One of those traitors was Javier Silva.
No, Javier Silva couldn't be described merely as one of the traitors.
'It was because of that bastard that the Eastern Alliance fell.'
During the Doomsday War, the eastern continent nations formed an alliance to fight alongside the Empire. Apple Kingdom was included.
The Empire dispatched knight orders and numerous Master Classes to support them.
But Javier Silva's betrayal caused the Eastern Alliance to crumble without properly fighting.
"An honor to meet you, Sir Javier."
Liam Bluegreen rose and offered a handshake to Javier Silva.
But Javier Silva didn't take the hand. He merely looked down at Liam with contemptuous eyes.
"Speaking casually upon first meeting... I didn't think you qualified for that."
At those words, Liam Bluegreen's face flushed red.
Liam Bluegreen was a marquis of Apple Kingdom. He wasn't in a position to defer to foreign nobles.
What Javier Silva pointed out was Liam's realm.
It was a sneer implying a mere High Class thought himself equal to a Master Class.
"...My apologies."
"Know it and mind yourself henceforth."
Liam Bluegreen's face burned even hotter.
But he couldn't protest. The man before him was a Master Class, after all.
"We rushed here upon hearing you'd arrived."
Javier Silva draped an arm around the young man's shoulder beside him.
"My son. He's participating in the Helian Tournament as a High Class this time."
Javier Silva spoke with a smug expression.
"We were heading to the Empire ourselves, so let's travel together.