Book 1 Chapter 836

836.

Leo, who had climbed onto the training ground, looked down at the two knights.

Everyone watched the scene in awe.

Seeing this, Jeswan couldn't tell what reaction he should show.

Hell Hound Jeswan Turek.

He was a skilled individual who rose to the position of a hero at the young age of late twenties.

From the southern continent, where many small nations engaged in endless wars over their interests.

He was a man who had worked as a mercenary in battlefields where people killed each other since his late teens.

He hadn't received any formal education.

He had simply killed opponents for 'survival'.

And to survive, to become stronger, he learned knights' techniques by stealing them indiscriminately on the battlefield.

About ten years passed like that.

He overthrew the man then called the Mercenary King on the battlefield and became a worldwide celebrity.

Based on that accomplishment, he ascended to the position of hero, and Jeswan ended the wars in his homeland.

Afterward, he left his hometown and wandered all over the world.

A hero of mercenary origin, not affiliated with any place.

Countless kings from many countries desired him, who had become a wanderer, as his recruitment alone could shake a nation's military power.

However, no country was able to recruit Jeswan.

Jeswan was far from what is called a noble family.

He was free-spirited and very rough, as a mercenary who had rolled around on battlefields since childhood.

A hero completely different from the usual image of a hero.

That's why he gained the notorious reputation of being a mad dog.

Although he called himself a wandering knight, he didn't particularly think of himself as a knight.

Then and now, he considered himself a mercenary.

Then one day, he heard stories about Leo Flobe of Rumerne.

An unprecedented all-class.

But he just thought it was a peculiar young master with unusual talents.

'It's rare to find a decent fellow from Rumerne.'

While there are a few genuine ones in Rumerne, such true individuals are very rare.

However, he was dumbfounded when he soon heard the news that he had risen to the position of a hero at a young age.

'At the age when I was about to go to the battlefield… No, he became a hero at an even younger age?'

Only those who have been heroes know how difficult it is to earn the title of hero.

That surprise was short-lived.

Now, news even came that he had earned the title of the King of Beginnings.

Jeswan felt a deep interest in the human named Leo Flobe.

Of course, he didn't particularly acknowledge him as king.

He was evaluated as the leader of the next generation of heroes, but what did that have to do with him?

He just felt like fighting him to see how great he was.

And so, Jeswan came to Retin.

But meeting Leo wasn't easy.

Even as a hero, he couldn't meet the king of another country at his whim.

The reason why heroes can easily have an audience with the powerful figures of a country they've never seen is because those figures wish to meet the heroes.

If they didn't wish it first, there was no way to meet them, even for a hero.

So Jeswan challenged Leo to a duel.

He had no hesitation, as he wasn't the only skilled individual who wanted to face Leo at the time.

However, most of those duels were rejected by Crimson Wave, Ciss.

It was, in fact, an absurd story.

An outsider challenging a king, who was about to ascend to the throne with the coronation not far off, to a duel.

'That's a story fit for ancient tales.'

He clicked his tongue with a 'Tsk-'.

But surprisingly, Leo appeared for Nejerin's duel.

Enraged by that fact, he spoke sarcastically.

He would accept the salary.

At first glance, it sounded like he meant to be evaluated for his skill and become a knight of the Arhi Kingdom.

But Jeswan had no such intention at all.

It was merely a remark made to be sarcastic.

He gently prodded to irritate the opponent's mood and provoke anger.

Even if he had become a hero as a student and received the title of King of the World, he was still young.

He must have pride in his abilities.

He thought that by mocking such an opponent, he could surely get a fight.

'In the first place, if he were a normal king, he wouldn't want someone like me as a knight.'

The hero called the Mad Dog, at whom the world's powerful figures shuddered.

That was Hell Hound Jeswan.

He had no intention of truly being loyal to anyone, so he was merely a source of discord.

As he thought that, Leo pointed at him with a finger and said.

"Interview passed."

'What is this man saying?'

Jeswan looked at Leo, who stood on the temporarily constructed training ground.

Although it was temporary, it was as if to show off his proficiency in magic.

It was a very elaborately made training ground.

It was strong enough not to budge from ordinary impacts.

'High-level alchemy magic.'

Jeswan didn't know much about magic, but he easily recognized it as alchemy magic of an unusual level.

'Is he truly an all-class?'

Jeswan sneered inwardly, looking up at Leo.

Still 17 years old.

An age perfectly suited to be called a youngster.

But in Jeswan's eyes, it was clear.

How much of a 'monster' the being before him was.

People often called Jeswan the chosen one.

A war orphan who, since childhood, hadn't even learned proper martial arts, let alone proper aura techniques.

Such a war orphan rose to the position of 'hero,' lauded as a war hero who would lead the world.

People said it was an accomplishment impossible without being chosen by talent.

But Jeswan didn't particularly like that story.

'It just means I was lucky.'

They try to explain everything solely by talent, excluding all the effort he had put in and the life he had lived.

From Jeswan's perspective, it was an unpleasant story.

'If I were chosen in the first place, I would have been born with good talent in a good environment.'

In that sense, the truly chosen person reflected in Jeswan's gaze was right before him.

The King of Beginnings, Leo Flobe.

'Talent so immense that being above others is natural.'

Of course, he didn't particularly intend to be jealous of it.

Just as he was born this way, Leo was also born that way.

'So, I want to see just how great the talent he was born with is.'

Jeswan grinned inwardly and stepped onto the training ground.

And then he said to Nejerin.

"Hey, woman. Aren't you coming up?"

"I will show my true self and be acknowledged. Not in a joint attack."

"What a peaceful thing to say."

Jeswan frowned.

Though called the Mad Dog, Jeswan didn't actually dislike such chivalry.

No, rather, having seen truly noble knights on the battlefield a few times, he tended to respect it.

But…

'She's strangely irritating.'

Just as he felt an instinctive annoyance.

Leo spoke.

"I said I would see both your skills at once."

At those words, Nejerin hesitated then climbed up.

Seeing that, people began to murmur.

"The Knight of Sandcastle is a knight who has even won duels against heroes, isn't he?"

"Yes. You could say he's practically a hero-class knight…"

"Two hero-class knights at once?"

"Is it okay?"

"Come on! My dear man. He is the King of Beginnings, acknowledged by none other than the King of Wisdom himself! He may be young, but isn't it natural for him to possess skills that overwhelm other heroes?"

"More than that, I like Sir Nejerin's confident attitude. To want to test herself even if she faces defeat, like a true knight…"

"Compared to that, Hell Hound is…"

Since he wasn't a hero with a very good image, people's critical gazes turned toward Jeswan.

But Jeswan didn't care.

Because he knew he wouldn't be welcomed anywhere anyway.

Woosh-!

As Jeswan spread his hands, flames erupted, and two spears appeared.

Clang-!

At the same time, Nejerin also drew the bastard sword from her waist.

The two knights simultaneously took their stances.

Leo stood still, silently watching the two hero-class knights.

Meanwhile.

"Ah. They ended up fighting after all."

Elena shrugged.

It was clear that encountering Leo's skill without immunity would lead to an unimaginable despair.

"What do you think will happen? Sia."

Elena asked, looking at Chen Sia.

But when there was no answer, Elena tilted her head.

"What are you doing?"

Chen Sia was silently staring at Nejerin.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh. I'm a little concerned."

"The Knight of Sandcastle?"

Chen Sia nodded silently.

Whoa-!

At that moment, gasps of admiration erupted from all over.

Leo had summoned a 'spear'.

Seeing that, Jeswan curved his lips into a smile.

'I heard his main weapon was a sword. A spear, huh.'

Jeswan, who had shown interest, suddenly met Leo's gaze.

And seeing Leo curve his lips into a smile while looking at him, he grinned.

'Did he perhaps pick up a spear to test me?'

Jeswan used short twin spears.

Though the tactics differed from the long spear Leo was holding, the fundamental principle was the same as long as it belonged to the 'spear' category.

'This is an honor, isn't it? Then, shall I witness your great skill?'

Jeswan's eyes flashed as he charged at Leo.

Shwaaaaaaa-!

At that moment, sand began to swirl around Nejerin.

'Sand-formed aura. I've heard rumors, but it's peculiar.'

Jeswan glanced back, a look of interest on his face.

He had actually wanted to fight Nejerin too, but his interest in Leo, who was before him, was even greater.

'Shall I witness the skill of the chosen hero?!'

Jeswan, who had reached within arm's length of Leo, thrust the spear in one hand toward Leo.

And the other spear, he swung upwards toward Leo.

The spears moved like a beast with two heads.

Clang-clang-!

But Jeswan's attacks were easily blocked by Leo.

Jeswan didn't care.

He knew anyway that they wouldn't land.

More than that.

Whoosh-!

A sand-formed sword shot out from the ground, aiming for Leo.

Thump-!

Leo lightly stepped on the tip of the sand sword and leaped.

And then he thrust his spear toward Jeswan.

Swish-!

A thrust at a speed suitable for dodging.

'He's not overpowering me? Is he paying attention to that woman…'

As Jeswan looked puzzled.

Leo's spear targeted Jeswan's neck like a snake.

Startled, Jeswan hastily parried Leo's thrust and retreated.

Afterward, Leo charged at Jeswan.

Nejerin's attacks continued ceaselessly in between, but Leo only targeted Jeswan as if she wasn't even there.

'What is this man?'

Jeswan felt goosebumps all over his body.

Because he realized that Leo's spear technique resembled his own.

It wasn't that he was copying his spear technique.

Jeswan saw the 'experience' left within Leo's spear technique.

'Battlefield…'

A characteristic typically seen in mercenaries like himself.

There was clearly a strong smell of blood in the spear.

And it wasn't the smell of blood from just a day or two.

A smell of blood so thick that even Jeswan, who had spent half his life on the battlefield, couldn't imagine it.

It was certainly not a smell that a chosen, noble hero would emit.

Thud-!

Jeswan, who had parried Leo's spear, swallowed dryly and looked at Leo.

'Just what… is his true identity?'