Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Elder Council - 2
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The fierce battle raged on across the snowfield.
Whoosh! A straight punch sliced through the air. Even though Leo dodged, his body shuddered. It wasn't fear—it was the sheer wind pressure from the fist shoving his body back.
He couldn't allow even a single hit. Considering Alfred's personality, he wouldn't kill, but given his skill, he could easily subdue without killing.
Aura enveloped Alfred's ears—specifically the eardrums. No matter if Leo joked or taunted, he probably couldn't hear properly.
Tell me about it.
"Your sword's form has changed. I'm glad to see it growing alongside you."
Alfred's gentle tone followed. If he hadn't said it mid-low kick, Leo could've smiled and replied.
'...No choice but to gamble...'
Leo extended his sword to max length, intentionally whipping it like a lash while spamming high-power spells.
"Flashy. Learned at the Magic Tower?"
It was closer to a threat to create distance than effective hits. Sure enough, Alfred pulled back.
"...Still incomplete, but..."
No choice but to test the evolved Black Stone's power.
The sword-form Black Stone fluidly turned liquid-like, coiling around his arm like tentacles. It formed a gauntlet midway between leather and metal on Leo's hand.
"Hoh, settling it with fisticuffs...!"
Boom!!
The gauntlet slammed the ground. Even charging head-on, it felt like a total surprise.
<Only way to land one solid hit.>
The enhanced Black Stone's ability: connection and fusion with the body. Thanks to feeding it his mana for growth, part could safely link internally.
That was his improvised new technique.
Black Stone - Red Line [5%]
High-risk, high-return body link technique. Current limit: 5% of body.
The red lines—bright on the gauntlet—like his own hand, veins on the verge of bursting.
Every vein pumped higher blood pressure, doping his usual aura and body beyond limits.
Pathetic strategy, yet somehow convincing.
True. Not swordsmanship—fisticuffs couldn't beat him. Proof: Leo pressed attack, yet never grazed Alfred.
Alfred would adapt to the doped speed and KO his jaw.
<You're right.>
A vibration hit. Not fight tremors—this felt like an earthquake.
<Fistfight, yes.>
But in chaotic melees, Leonardo held the edge. Pre- or post-regression.
"...This vibration..."
Alfred boosted senses via aura-blocked ears.
"You're definitely strong, Alfred. Losing in close quarters was obvious."
He turned toward the sound: an avalanche roaring from the mountainside.
"But conversely, that means you know it too."
So he'd focus on suppressing Leo. Avalanche unheard thru aura, vibrations masked by fight shocks.
"Those spells earlier were prep for this."
Magic reshaped terrain for avalanche—strategy from pre-regression terrain knowledge.
"Excellent. I'd love to let you have this one."
Alfred clenched fist, punched avalanche. Parting waves barehanded reminded Leo his foe was no joke.
"Now then, Leo...!"
But anticipated. Leo's fist already flew at Alfred's face.
Thud!
Fists crossed, slamming faces. Attacks crossed, mutual hits.
"Gah...!"
Counter sent Leo flying despite surprise. Without snow distraction, jaw dislocated, KO.
But resolve paid off handsomely.
"Landed... a solid one?"
Alfred caressed cheek, smiled. Just slight red—no bruise, let alone break.
"Yes, a solid hit."
Alfred extended hand with kindly smile.
"Your win, Leonardo."
Leo grabbed, rose. Body trembled from impact, but bearable.
"Sorry about this. As butler, elders occasionally order such tests."
"No problem."
Leo brushed snow from clothes, grinned.
"A butler is a knight guarding the house, right?"
(Not a joke, by the way.)
Yet why did the old man collapse laughing?
The elders watching via comms couldn't solve it either.
The Legend of the Joke Assassin continued (unwillingly).
Alfred returned first via return scroll. Wishing luck and secrecy was bonus.
If Leo hadn't urgently zapped to stop the laughter, asphyxiation blackout—but past, no need dwell.
"Now then..."
In snowstorm, Leo strained eyes. Gray building faint thru snow fog like mist. Undeniably the destination.
Sage made sense. Current Hero Family twisted negatively from founder Ruben Reinhardt.
Hero's feats mere authority props now; world rotting worse than saved.
If romancing saying that, maybe nod—but old solo life killed even polite agreement.
<Yes.>
Mind-reading no longer surprised.
<Wish I could fly...>
Hours trudging snowfield, Leo grumbled a bit. Normally no complaint, but Alfred fight fatigue sapped even his iron stamina.
Barrier banning flight meant path to council itself a test.
Stamina drained trudging cold blizzard sans proper mount,
"Grrr...!"
and fighting starving beasts therein. Pre-regression, tough sans Alfred fight.
"Clang...!"
Now Leo's lunch though.
Leo chewed skinned, roughly chopped wolf meat.
<Vs monster blood or flesh, it's tasty and nutritious. Good roast, decent.>
Post-departure years traveling: every hardship endured.
Gamey meat whining? Beyond cute—unfathomable.
<Did 3 months once. Rescue disappointing.>
Chopped trees for house, furniture usable—pity discard.
Chat over, magic fire-roasted meats done. Leo devoured wolf roasts, resumed trek.
Soon, massive gray castle emerged from snow fog.
Fortress prepped for battle more than castle.
"Arrived."
Reinhardt's Elder Council headquarters.
The council elders held no initial favor for Leonardo. To them, he was a clueless brat overstepping.
Hence Alfred to crush morale.
Force humility, seize hearing advantage, self-realize unexceptional in Reinhardt.
Childish test, but hardship undeniable. Sometimes brute submission trumps aged wisdom.
"...That... possible?"
Their expectations buried with avalanche.
"Even doddering, Alfred was Reinhardt knight..."
They felt cognitive dissonance viewing scene.
Alfred attacked mercilessly—no quarter, they discerned.
"Marken...!"
But that reversal? Beyond rigid, outdated imaginations.
"Why give such weapon to outsider?!"
Judgments rusted by pride long ago. Mistook Leo's prowess mere tool power.
"Ignoring Execution Knight Commander's judgment?"
Killing intent followed—from Reinhardt's Shadow.
"Not ignoring—questioning fact. Such favoritism intolerable even collaterals."
Intimidated by Chris's aura? Youngest elder lowered voice, countered.
"Favoritism..."
Silent Marken muttered, then chuckled. Old memory fine drinking snack.
"Then why didn't direct/collaterals choose or get selected?"
Marken long shared weapons with kin—handpicked rarer, meaningful premiums.
Truth: Black Stone pearl in mud.
"...Well..."
"And sharing my armory? My right beyond rank/rite. Invading it—what means, aware?"
Council hall iced instantly. That hulking elder: active monster, unlike retired fossils hunkered in fortress.
Only defier:
"...Quiet."
Reinhardt's Elder Chairman.
Jairon Reinhardt glared, quelling council chatter.
Thrice half-century old lion's gaze proclaimed claws/teeth intact.
"...Who kid again?"
"Leonardo. No surname."
All displeased. Nameless lowborn in council irksome.
"Grievances formally at hearing. His future unknown. Rather..."
Clan head gazed window. Boy knight's presence vivid despite dizzying drop.
"Arrived sooner expected."
"Impossible. Hours from there..."
"Meaningless without proof."
Reinhardt's Black Rock donned white coat, perched windowsill.
"What mean? Chris..."
"Demonstrate action. Elders."
Chris leaped battlement. Gate ignored—no comprehension, nor desire.
<Will. Flow demands someone can't resist.>
Boom...!!
Person plummeted skyward. Not Celestial Castle, but council walls sky-high, expression apt.
"Long time. Leonardo."
"Yes, well met? Chris."
Chris smiled satisfied at unsurprised Leo.
"Knight—Black Rock—ill? Unlike rusty blades there."
Overly metaphorical, intent clear.
"Black Rock name belies white garb today. Style change?"
"Hah, good question."
Chris let white coat billow. Pose from ancient novel fad.
"True darkness camouflages in surrounds. Forest/mountain tiger king lives white tiger in snow."
Sage spot-on. Absurd claim so boldly itched correction.
"Before council guide, show growth. Lightly..."
"Chris."
Impulse won; Leo spoke.
"Issue? Injury linger?"
"Before demo, one correction alright?"
Anxiety flooded Chris. Déjà vu—happened couple times before.
"...Fine... go."
Curiosity beat caution; repeated scenario.
Soon Chris learned: white tiger, product of human greed—forced incest for circus/ornamental use, indelible avarice crystallized.