Book 1 Chapter 677

"That Smith fellow, Dinnett. He seems to have a son."

Chelsea said this to Leo, who had returned from paying respects at the tombstone, as she waited for him outside the cemetery.

She had heard this from the head of the weapons workshop who had guided them here.

"A son, you say."

"What are you going to do?"

Chelsea asked cautiously, and Leo replied impassively.

"Let's focus on the conquest for now."

"Okay."

There was only so much Leo could do for Dinnett's son at the moment.

'I can at least express my gratitude.'

But that was all.

They didn't have much time left.

Even if they changed history, they wouldn't exist forever.

'Still, I should at least go and meet him.'

Thinking about Dinnett's son, Leo returned to where the party's tent was set up.

It was already around lunchtime.

Upon seeing the scene in front of the tent, Chelsea's eyes widened.

"Who are those people?"

Their companions were confronting someone there.

Leo confirmed the face of the beastkin girl confronting Duran and muttered,

"The kids I saw yesterday."

"Do you know them, Leo-oppa?"

"Rather than knowing them, I've only seen their faces."

They had shown their will to fight before the battle yesterday, saying they would also join the fray.

Of course, they couldn't stand on the battlefield as they weren't qualified.

"What's going on?"

As Leo approached and asked, Duran smirked.

"These people want to test their strength against us."

*Crack-*

Duran popped his knuckles.

"So I was thinking of giving them a match."

"You seem to be enjoying yourself."

"They said they are candidate warriors of Ivaldi."

Although they were similar in age, they lived in different eras.

He seemed curious about how warriors from 5000 years ago fought.

There was no hint of condescension.

Duran himself was the embodiment of competitive spirit, but more importantly, he sought to learn and absorb anything he could from others.

Eliza, who had a similar personality, was filing her nails, seemingly uninterested.

'It's probably because there are no summoners.'

Even now, summoners are a rarer class than knights or mages.

During the Age of Calamity, summoners were even rarer.

"You're their leader, right? Come at me."

The beastkin girl's aggressive nature was evident.

At her words, Ainah, who had been watching the situation from behind, stepped forward.

"What?"

"If you want to fight Leo-senpai, prove your worth."

"And what is that worth?"

"At least beat me."

The beastkin girl scowled.

Seeing her expression, Leo gently pressed down on Ainah's head.

"Don't provoke them unnecessarily."

"I didn't provoke them at all…"

Leo pinched Ainah's cheek.

Ainah looked up at Leo.

Though her expression was blank, her eyes were full of displeasure.

Leo chuckled and sent Ainah to Luke before standing in front of the beastkin girl.

"Why do you want to fight us?"

"You participated in yesterday's battle, didn't you?"

The beastkin girl lowered her head.

"We're grateful for that. Thank you for fighting for Ivaldi even though you are outsiders."

After expressing her gratitude, the beastkin girl raised her head.

"But from our perspective, it's humiliating. You, who are our age and outsiders, participated in the battle, but we couldn't stand on the battlefield."

The beastkin girl gritted her teeth.

"So I want to prove myself to Lord Dweino."

"That you are worthy of standing on the battlefield?"

"Yes."

Looking into the girl's eyes, burning with fighting spirit, Leo said,

"I'm not underestimating you, but there's no one weaker than you here."

Leo narrowed his eyes.

"You know that better than anyone, don't you?"

At those words, the beastkin girl bit her lip tightly.

As Leo said, she knew all too well that she couldn't win, let alone against Leo, but even against Ainah who had blocked her path.

"Ivaldi's situation is urgent. Under normal circumstances, you should have been on the battlefield as well. But Dweino did not allow you to be sent to the battlefield. You know why he made that decision, don't you?"

The girl with brown hair and cat ears drooped her head.

"What about the future?"

It was the dwarf boy next to her who flared up instead of the beastkin girl.

"We could die at any moment anyway! What does the future matter!"

The dwarf boy said with a look of profound emptiness.

"Right now is more important than that! The warriors fighting for us right now also have families! It's more important for them to return to their families! To us! And we can contribute to that!"

Dweino wanted these children to live a little longer into the future.

Not just Dweino.

Those born before the Age of Calamity pitied those born during the Age of Calamity.

A generation that only had things taken away.

A generation that fell into deep nihilism and couldn't even see the future.

Dweino and the warriors of Ivaldi wanted to show them a light.

That feeling would have only grown stronger after regaining the starlight.

However, for them, the present was more urgent and important than a future they couldn't reach.

'What they're saying isn't wrong.'

But…

'Unless it's someone like Berkiana or Biharu… they won't be of much help on the battlefield anyway.'

Leo clicked his tongue, thinking of his disciples who far surpassed the norm.

"It's just like Dit said! More than that! What do you even know to be talking like that? You're just our age! Does being a little stronger mean everything?"

The beastkin girl pointed her finger at Leo.

"Leo-oppa isn't just 'a little' strong."

'No, Leo-oppa is an adult even by the standards of this era.'

Chelsea shook her head.

"Wow, that's really amazing."

Kal, who had been watching the situation, exclaimed then.

Seeing Kal like that, the beastkin girl narrowed her eyes.

"Besides! Even someone as weak as that went to the battlefield yesterday! So why can't we!"

"Huh? Me?"

"We want to go to the battlefield too! We want to fight! If someone as weak as that can go! Then we can too!"

"You call me weak so often. It hurts my feelings."

Kal grumbled.

"It's a fact that you're weak."

"It's pathetic."

Chelsea and Eliza teased Kal.

"Hmph. People who haven't even been recognized as heroes are talking a lot."

At those words, Chelsea's and Eliza's faces turned menacing.

Kal quickly hid behind Luke.

"I like that fighting spirit."

Then, Duran stepped forward with a smirk.

"Alright. I'll fight you."

Seeing Duran step forward, Leo said,

"Wait, Duran."

"Are you giving orders?"

"It's a request. Besides, if you fight this child, you won't learn anything."

"What do you mean?"

Duran scowled.

Seeing Duran like that, Leo smiled and then looked at Kal.

"Kal."

"Why are you calling me?"

"You have to step up."

"Me?"

Kal was taken aback.

Seeing that, the beastkin girl bristled.

"Wait! Why do I have to fight someone so weak!"

"Kal is the weakest among us. If you can't even beat Kal, you won't be recognized fighting us. In fact, you're not qualified to stand on the battlefield."

Leo smiled, and the beastkin girl scoffed.

"I'll quickly defeat a weak mage like this and then fight you."

"That won't happen."

"What?"

"You can't beat Kal."

***

"Something interesting is happening."

In the open space in front of the tent, Enniha returned.

"Teacher Enniha…! This is…"

"Yes, Dit. I know what's going on without you telling me."

Enniha nodded at the dwarf boy's words.

"Teacher Enniha! Please look at this!"

Then Driana appeared from behind, her eyes sparkling.

Driana held a drawing in her hand.

Seeing it, Chelsea said,

"You looked like you were about to die yesterday after training with Lord Dweino, but you're full of energy today?"

"I learned drawing from Teacher Enniha today! The silly cat and silly human are passed out!"

At Driana's words, Dit looked flustered.

"Teacher Enniha, what is this child saying? Training with Lord Dweino?"

Enniha scratched his cheek at Dit's words.

"This child is learning Smithing from Dweino."

After a brief explanation, Enniha looked at Driana's drawing and his expression turned grim.

"Th-that's original."

"Right! You recognize it, don't you!"

"That's not a compliment, you silly dwarf."

Chelsea said coldly, but Driana didn't listen.

Dit, after examining Driana's drawing, flared up.

"Wasn't I supposed to be Lord Dweino's disciple?"

"Um… you'll soon be a disciple…"

"I refuse! For someone with such poor dexterity to become Lord Dweino's disciple before me!"

At those words, Driana's face suddenly turned menacing.

"What did you just say?"

"I said poor dexterity!"

"You damn dwarf!"

"You're a dwarf too! And who are you calling a damn dwarf! A damn dwarf who draws damn pictures!"

"You've insulted my art!"

"Art? What art is this!"

"What's all the commotion?"

As Leo approached with a frown, Chelsea replied,

"That dwarf attacked Driana with cowardly facts!"

"Chelsea Lewalin!"

Driana lunged at Chelsea.

Driana, with her eyes rolling, pursued Chelsea, who quickly ran away.

Watching them, Dit said,

"Hey! Human! Let me duel that dwarf! We'll compete for the position of Lord Dweino's disciple!"

At the intense reaction, Enniha sighed and said,

"It's better not to."

"Why!"

"It won't end with just a few broken bones."

There's nothing more enraging for an artist than having their work insulted.

Driana would genuinely fight.

After calming Dit down, Enniha looked at Driana's drawing with a serious expression.

"Don't you regret it?"

Enniha gave an awkward laugh at Leo's words.

"I can teach. I can teach."

"No."

Leo said firmly and looked at Driana.

"Her hands and emotions are definitely cursed."

It wasn't for nothing that Dweino told her to quit art.

Meanwhile.

Kal had finished preparing for the duel.

Seeing that, Leo said,

"You guys."

At his words, the party looked at Leo.

"Watch carefully."

Leo narrowed his eyes.

"That beastkin child has something you don't."

"What is it?"

Luke asked with a puzzled look, and Leo replied,

"The resolve to die at any moment."