Chapter 208
Chapter 208
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: Astonishment (2)
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The next day, the injured began to wake up one by one.
Thanks to Demian pouring potions without sparing them and even using the divine power of Dawn, everyone's wounds had healed cleanly.
“Wow…….”
“Oooh…….”
Michael and Veronica couldn't tear their eyes away from the Aurablade Demian had conjured.
When Demian tilted the Aurablade to the left, their bodies followed suit. When he tilted it to the right, they moved the same way again.
“Do you believe it now?”
With those words, Demian dispelled the Aurablade. Regret flickered across both their faces.
“Brother……! You've really reached Master Class! That's incredible!”
Michael's eyes sparkled with excitement.
The person who had been Low Class when they first met had become Master Class in less than a year.
That was why Michael's awe was greater than anyone else's.
“……Master Class? He was already too strong to beat, and now this? You're getting even further ahead.”
Veronica, on the other hand, grumbled like she wasn't pleased.
Then, suddenly, her eyes lit up as she asked Demian,
“But I heard Master Class means you're insanely tough with protective aura, right? Can I test it out just once?”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Why not? It doesn't wear out or anything? Come on, just once? Please?”
Demian flicked Veronica's forehead with an incredulous look.
“Ow! Why'd you hit me!”
“If you don't know why, you deserve another one.”
“Ow!”
Only after a few more flicks did Veronica finally shut her mouth.
“Brother, so you'll be entering the Helian Tournament as Master Class?”
“That's the plan.”
“W-Woah…….”
Michael let out another gasp of admiration.
The Master Class division was considered the highlight of the Helian Tournament, worthy of being called its flower.
To think he'd be competing in such a prestigious event. As a fellow knight, Michael couldn't help but be impressed.
“That's why I have a favor to ask you two.”
At Demian's words, Michael and Veronica tilted their heads.
“Since I moved up to Master Class, the High Class spot is open. One of you needs to step up to High Class and fill it.”
The moment they heard the request, bewilderment crossed their faces.
“Brother…… Is High Class something you just…… achieve like that?”
“Of course not.”
“Then how are we supposed to……?”
“Don't worry. I'll help you.”
Demian opened his subsapce and pulled out the club again. The second Veronica saw it, she yelped and hid behind Michael. Michael turned to her with an annoyed look.
“From today until we reach the Empire, I plan to train you two personally.”
Truth be told, even for someone as exceptional as Demian, turning Middle Class knights into High Class in this short time was impossible.
But these two were different. With Michael and Veronica's talents, it was entirely feasible.
“Brother…… Even so, reaching High Class by the time we get to the Empire is…….”
“Why do I have to get beat up just to reach High Class?!”
Michael looked lacking in confidence, while Veronica seemed outright displeased with the idea.
To fire them up, Demian added an incentive.
“Michael, if you reach High Class, I'll grant you one wish.”
Michael's eyes widened at that.
“A-A wish?”
“Yeah.”
“W-What's the scope……?”
“Anything.”
Michael's eyes grew even larger.
“Veronica.”
“What.”
“If you reach High Class, I'll let you put a blade to my body.”
Veronica's face went blank.
“……Anywhere?”
“Yeah, anywhere.”
Demian nodded readily. He planned to protect himself with protective aura anyway.
“But only the first one to reach High Class gets their wish.”
Michael and Veronica glared at each other. Their eyes burned with fierce determination.
“Stay out of it.”
“Hmph, who asked you to butt out? You stay out.”
“Still clueless about your place. When you're this weak compared to me.”
“Where do you get off? In a real fight, you'd already be dead by my hand.”
The two growled at each other. Demian watched them with relief.
‘Was a bit worried deep down…… but they're both fine.’
Michael and Veronica had nearly been killed by a Master Class monster while only at Middle Class.
Any ordinary knight would have had their mind broken. But these two were burning with even more vigor.
‘As expected, they've got real talent.’
Demian valued mental fortitude as highly as sword talent. He'd seen too many geniuses ruined by weak wills.
“Might as well start now.”
Demian said, tapping his palm with the club.
“Yes, Brother! I'll train hard!”
“I can use a real sword, right? Yeah? You'll let me?”
Demian nodded.
“Fine, then. Come at me together. Let's just gauge your skills lightly today.”
Michael and Veronica charged at Demian right away.
And got thoroughly thrashed.
“Ughhh…….”
“Guhhh…….”
Michael and Veronica lay sprawled on the ground after Demian had beaten them soundly.
“Michael, your senses are dull. Sharpen them more. Veronica, your field of vision is too narrow. Widen it.”
Demian pointed out their flaws one by one.
“I'll give you until tomorrow. Fix them properly.”
From that day on, all the way to the Empire, Demian trained them rigorously.
“Michael, I said fall back there. Veronica, why didn't you block?”
He helped fill in their technical gaps.
“Your head's empty. I told you to keep your eyes open.”
He helped them gain more experience through spars.
As a result, they had to follow Demian around every day and take beatings.
“Brother! Looking forward to today too!”
“Today…… Today I'll definitely cut you!”
Their attitudes were polar opposites. No matter how harsh the training, Michael accepted it with a beaming smile.
Veronica, meanwhile, attacked Demian with pure fury.
‘She's getting under my skin a bit.’
Demian secretly put more force into the club during spars with Veronica.
“You…… Be honest. You're hitting me harder, right?”
“No way.”
“Don't lie!”
“I said no.”
“Argh! Stop hitting me!”
Veronica rebelled now and then, but it never escalated. Demian 'reformed' her each time.
And a few weeks later, the group arrived at the Empire's capital.
* * *
Demian gazed into the distance from his horse.
A massive wall stood amid the vast plains. It made Apple Kingdom's castle look like a rural village.
‘Still blows my mind every time.’
Even though he'd seen it once in his previous life, Demian couldn't help but marvel.
“This is my second time here.”
Liam Bluegreen murmured with a nostalgic expression.
“You've been here before?”
“Around your age, I came to enter the Helian Tournament.”
Liam Bluegreen gazed at the capital, lost in memories for a moment.
“Then let's head in.”
There were twelve gates just for entering the capital. All were packed with people trying to get in.
Since Demian's group flew Apple Kingdom's flag, they got through relatively quickly.
“We should split up for now. You all find lodging. We'll head to the Colosseum to update the participant list.”
The Helian Tournament was massive, with every kingdom on the continent participating.
With so many entrants, they couldn't rely on the Empire for help. They even had to secure their own accommodations.
Liam Bluegreen divided the group.
The soldiers and knights moved to find lodging.
Liam Bluegreen took Demian, Michael, and Veronica to the Colosseum where the tournament was held.
The Colosseum's interior was packed with knights there to compete.
“Brother, look over there. They've got some unusual armor.”
Michael said, looking around with curiosity.
By then, the group had reached the imperial official handling registrations. The official, adjusting his thick glasses, spoke up.
“Where are you from?”
“From Apple Kingdom.”
At Liam Bluegreen's words, the official rifled through his papers.
“Ah, here it is. Middle Class: Michael Ryanbloom, Veronica Sanchez. High Class: Demian Haksen. Correct?”
At the name Demian Haksen, the surrounding knights' gazes converged.
-Demian Haksen? That guy from Apple Kingdom?
-I heard he reached High Class after barely holding a sword.
People began murmuring as they stared at Demian.
-You idiots. You seriously believe he hit High Class in under a year?
-No way that's possible. He's the one spreading the rumors.
-We'll uncover the truth in this tournament.
Most weren't favorable toward Demian. Some were outright hostile.
“We'd like to make a change to the participant list.”
“A change?”
“There were some developments on the way here.”
Liam Bluegreen said with a subtle smile.
“We want to enter Michael Ryanbloom in High Class instead of Middle Class.”
Veronica clicked her tongue. Michael looked down at her triumphantly.
“Must've had a stroke of luck on the way.”
The official said with an intrigued expression.
“Congratulations. So Apple Kingdom will have two in High Class.”
“Ah, no. Demian Haksen will be entering a different division.”
“Different division?”
“He'll be competing in Master Class.”
At that moment, the official froze. He looked up at Liam Bluegreen and blinked.
“……If I may ask something rude?”
“Go ahead.”
“Falsifying your class in the Helian Tournament is strictly forbidden. If caught, not only the knight but the entire kingdom faces penalties…….”
“He doesn't believe it either.”
A wry smile crossed Liam Bluegreen's face.
“Sir Demian, mind putting on a show?”
Demian raised Dawn high into the sky.
A blue glow erupted. The Aurablade enveloped Dawn's blade.
-…….
In that instant, the entire Colosseum fell silent.
-……!
-A-An Aurablade!
-H-He’s really Master Class?!
The silence lasted only a moment before screams shook the whole Colosseum.