Chapter 128
The major route to the Tripia Region was littered with the remains of the undead. There was no need to describe the intensity of the combat that had just ended here.
“It’s done!”
“These undead scoundrels actually caused us so much trouble!”
“Have you seen Manager Eiden’s strength earlier? Even though the mage had assisted him, he still took out the Dullahans. Perhaps he’s already an A-Class?”
“That newbie was strong as well. He used a Unique Skill to turn the undead into ashes! He must certainly be the son of a fallen noble”
“Wait, where did they even go?”
The mercenaries seemed confused as they muttered among themselves. They were sprawled on the ground out of exhaustion after a few hours of battle.
Meanwhile, a bit distant from the mercenaries, Joshua and Akshuller were talking to each other.
Joshua stared at the large-framed man in front of him and said, “Since you weren’t surprised, I’m sure you knew what’s there here.”
Akshuller nodded and said, “A lich, right? It’s part of my agreement with her.”
“Agreement…” Joshua blinked and said, “Anyway, it shouldn’t be that long since you got your hands on Reipon, so how come you’re already famous as Eiden?”
“Eiden… He’s a real person.”
“Yes?” Joshua tilted his head.
Akshuller stared at Joshua and replied, “Eiden was a mercenary like me, and he’s my father.”
“Ah…” Joshua sensed that Akshuller had a long story to tell, so he changed the topic. “Anyway, you know that you’re acting more like a thug than a mercenary, right?”
“Who, me?” Akshuller pointed at himself with an incredulous look. He looked like he had no idea what Joshua was talking about.
“I’ve heard the mercenaries talking about how this is a 2-Star Quest, but then a bunch of undead and even Dullahans appeared. You know it’s pretty difficult to deal with Dullahans without Aura, right? If 2-Star Quests are always like this, then they will definitely quit one day.”
“Well, it was a 5-Star Quest…” Akshuller chuckled and said, “But with you and I here, the difficulty should only be about two stars.”
“...” At that, Joshua didn’t know what to say.
‘To think that he would say something like that with so much confidence…’ Joshua inwardly muttered.
Joshua’s eyes brightened upon realizing it. It seemed that Akshuller had no idea. He simply thought that they were about to deal with a regular Lich, but Akshuller had no idea that they might be up against an opponent more formidable than any foe Joshua had ever fought.
Joshua couldn’t help but ask, “You know that Liches have ranks, right?”
“Huh??Are you talking about how mages are divided into ranks depending on their Class? So the strongest Lich is an Archlich?”
Joshua saw the look of confusion on Akshuller’s face, and he became sure of it.
‘He definitely has no idea...’
Joshua went silent for a while. He eventually looked down and said, “I’ve got one piece of advice.”
“...?”
“Remember that no matter how strong you are, even if you’re a Superhuman, an A-Class, or a Master—you have to remember that you’re still human. Don’t forget that.”
“Says the one who’s more of a monster than a human.” Akshuller shrugged.
“Anyway…” Joshua glanced toward where the mercenaries had gathered and said, “She’s here.”
“Did I not tell you that we will eventually meet her if you took the quest? Anyway, it’s about time we go back, let’s go.” Akshuller seemed to be in a hurry as he abruptly turned around.
“...” Joshua briefly stared at Akshuller’s back before shaking his head and following the latter.
Unbeknownst to Joshua, there was a triumphant smile on Akshuller’s lips.
***
Clink!
‘Unbelievable—’
Baron Ashbal sank to his knees after his opponent sent his sword flying.
His hands were stained red—it seemed the force behind the attack was too strong for his palm to endure as it was ripped apart.
“Black Moon Slash…! How do you—” Baron Ashbal muttered with wide eyes.
With a sword in hand, Cain arrogantly looked down at Baron Ashbal sitting on the floor.
Baron Ashbal clenched his teeth and trembled as he exclaimed, “You’re just a knight of a mere baron, so how is it possible that you know that skill? Where did you learn that secret?!”
“Haaa…” Cain took a deep breath to stabilize himself before saying with a grin, “My lord often says this...”
“What?”
“Sticking your nose into someone else’s business will only result in a bloody nose.”
“You…!” Baron Ashbal gnashed his teeth and forced his trembling legs up.
The moment Baron Ashbal took on a stance, Cain also subtly changed his stance.
Cain didn’t let it show, but a fight of this level was exhausting for him.
‘I have confidence in my endurance, but it seems that I still have a long way to go. I definitely have to fight stronger people, so I can become even stronger,’?Cain muttered to himself as he lifted his sword.
Baron Ashbal finally stabilized, and he roared, “Your lord is a coward. It is a shame how he made you come here just to save his own face.”
“Shut up.” Cain's eyes darkened.
“Your arrogance ends here!” Baron Ashbal shouted before rousing every ounce of his mana.
Wooong.
The mana coming from Baron Ashbal’s mana hall surged in one direction, and as if he wanted to prove that it wasn’t just a fluke that he became the commander of the Pontier Family’s 1st Knight Division, his mana started to affect the air in the training hall.
A few moments later, a layer of deep blue mana enveloped Baron Ashbal’s sword.
It was incomplete, but it was still technically an Aura Blade.
“We’re in the training hall, you know? I thought this was just sparring!”
“Shouldn't we stop them? Lady Charles will definitely go mad once she finds out.”
“How do we even stop them?”
The knights couldn’t do anything other than mutter among themselves. It was only natural because they weren’t really the match of either knight.
However, a loud voice suddenly reverberated throughout the training hall.
“Enough!”
“...!” Baron Ashbal and Cain trembled upon hearing the high-pitched voice.
A red-haired lady furiously stomped her way toward them.
“What is this mess?”
“M-my lady...” a seemingly shaken Icarus emerged from the corner where she had been hiding upon seeing Charles.
Cain also perked up upon seeing Charles, and he immediately spoke, “Baron Ashbal has disparaged my lord! I was just asking him a few questions, but he suddenly unsheathed his sword and—”
.
“What are you saying?” Baron Ashbal interrupted, annoyed. Cain had successfully made himself look like he was the one who had been wronged here.
“Is that true, Sir Ashbal?” Charles said with an icy look.
“...” Baron Ashval bit his lips without saying anything.
However, something unexpected occurred.
Slap!
Charles had slapped Baron Ashbal hard across the face.
“...!”
“Ah…”
The jaws of the knights dropped while Cain covered his cheek and winced as if he had gotten slapped as well.
“Just who are you to embarrass me like this? How dare you disrespect my visitors!” Charles was enraged. “Or, are you saying that I’m just my father’s daughter, and also a witch to you?”
“N-no...” Baron Ashval didn’t dare to raise his head.
“...” Charles turned to look at Cain and said, “On behalf of the Pontier Family’s knights, I apologize to Lord Joshua’s knight, Sir Cain.”
Charles bowed deeply.
“...!” Cain’s eyes widened.
Cain definitely didn’t expect that things would go in this direction, so he shook his head as fast as he could and even bowed his head as well before hurriedly saying, “N-no, no, no… My lady, you do not have to do this.”
“Anyway…” Charles straightened her back and turned to Baron Ashbal before speaking in a cold voice. “From now on, please notify me immediately if there are any disagreements. I’m the head of the household, so there is no way I will sit idly by and let my guests be insulted by my vassals. Do you understand?”
“Yes…” Baron Ashbal responded.
With that out of the way, Charles turned around and walked away.
“My lady!” Icarus hurriedly followed after Charles.
“...” WIth Icarus and Charles’ departure, Cain was left alone with the Pontier Family’s knights along with Baron Ashbal. Cain awkwardly scratched his head and chuckled hollowly before saying, “Haha, I better get going. What time was that appointment again?”
Without waiting for anyone’s response, Cain made a break for the door.
In the end, only Baron Ashbal and the Pontier Family’s knights were left in the training hall.
“D-Damn it all!” Baron Ashbal finally couldn’t hold in his fury anymore as he exploded and roared, “AAAARRRGGGHHH!”
Baron Ashbal yelled for quite a while. Eventually, he looked around and exclaimed, “What the hell are you lot doing here?! We’re about to go to war, so why are you lot standing there doing nothing when you lot are supposed to prepare for war?!”
“W-We’re going to prepare now, C-Commander, sir!”
A red-faced Baron Ashbal lashed out at the knights.
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