Episode 154: Athena Hopper (1)
Damian walked towards the entrance with Cynthia by his side.
A crowd of mercenaries had already gathered near the entrance, their cheers echoing through the air as they watched something intently.
Four riders, two men and two women, were making their way inside on horseback. Behind them, a large cart was being pulled, carrying the coiled body of an enormous snake, lifeless.
“Is that the basilisk that ruled the Alpaca Mountains?”
“Look at the size of it. That’s no ordinary basilisk.”
“Must be at least 300 years old. Imagine the armor you could make from its hide.”
The mercenaries couldn’t stop marveling at the sight of the snake on the cart.
This wasn’t just any large snake. It was a basilisk, the king of serpents, known for its deadly gaze that could turn living creatures to stone.
But the petrifying curse wasn’t its only danger. Its hide was so tough that even the finest swords couldn’t cut through it, and its blood was as lethal as poison.
Its sheer size meant it had the strength to crush monsters like ogres and trolls with ease.
It was a creature so dangerous that even high-class warriors avoided it. Yet, these four young people had managed to hunt it down.
“And they took it down with a clean cut to the neck. Impressive.”
Damian admired the four riders, observing each one closely.
As first-generation Sacred Bloods, they had distinct features that set them apart from the second generation.
Their hair color was the most noticeable difference.
While the second generation’s hair was unremarkable, the first generation, like the Mercenary King, had white hair.
The degree of whiteness varied, with some appearing more gray than white.
Among them, only one girl had hair as brilliantly white as the Mercenary King’s.
“Athena Hopper. Just like in my past life.”
Before him stood the heroine who had resisted Dorgo, following in her father’s footsteps.
The four riders headed towards the Mercenary King’s tent, basking in the mercenaries’ cheers.
As they passed, Athena Hopper’s gaze briefly met Damian’s.
She continued on, indifferent, without a second glance.
“What do you think of them?” Cynthia asked once the four had disappeared from view.
“They’re all remarkable.”
In truth, Damian was only interested in Athena Hopper. He hadn’t paid much attention to the other three.
Yet, he could sense the powerful aura they all possessed.
“The Mercenary King is a fair man. He’s too confident to resort to underhanded tactics.”
It had been the same in his past life.
The Mercenary King was not one for deceit. He preferred charging head-on in battle rather than employing complex strategies.
That didn’t mean he was reckless. He had a knack for creating favorable situations and battlefields.
“So you won’t have to compete with the master-class Sacred Bloods. If you can defeat the high-class ones—the four you just saw—the Mercenary King will acknowledge your victory.”
Cynthia spoke in a firm tone.
“But as your senior, let me tell you… that won’t happen.”
Cynthia was a master-class warrior.
She saw and felt things beyond what high-class warriors could perceive.
Her certainty was clear: Damian couldn’t defeat the first-generation Sacred Bloods.
“Thanks for the advice. But I’m not one to back down just because I’m told to.”
Of course, Damian didn’t take Cynthia’s words to heart.
He was hiding much of his true power and talent.
It was only natural that Cynthia saw him as weaker than the first generation.
“If you’re determined to make things difficult for yourself, I can’t stop you. Follow me; I’ll show you to your quarters.”
With that, Cynthia turned and walked away, her back suggesting a hint of irritation.
“I’m glad to see you all returned safely!”
The Mercenary King beamed at the seated first-generation warriors.
“I was worried when I sent you off. I feared this mission might be too difficult.”
The basilisk they had hunted was a monster that had settled in the Alpaca Mountains, devouring countless people.
Even the high-class warriors of the Grape Kingdom had fallen prey to it.
Desperate after losing such valuable resources, the Grape Kingdom had urgently contacted the Mercenary King for help.
“But seeing how you handled it, my worries were unfounded. You’ve completed the mission splendidly. You make me proud.”
The Mercenary King smiled with satisfaction, and the Sacred Bloods mirrored his expression.
All except one. Athena was deep in thought, barely registering the Mercenary King’s words.
“Athena, is something troubling you?” he asked with concern.
Athena Hopper finally spoke up.
“I saw a strange man when we came in. Who is he?”
The Mercenary King gave a knowing smile.
“I knew you’d notice. He’s a free knight I’ve recently hired. His name is Damian Haxen.”
The mention of Damian Haxen widened the eyes of everyone present.
Even the first-generation Sacred Bloods had heard of him.
“Do you know what he did while you were away? He defeated Baltin and Quesi. And they didn’t even get a proper fight.”
The Sacred Bloods were stunned.
Baltin and Quesi were respected among the second-generation Sacred Bloods.
To hear they were defeated without a proper fight was hard to believe.
“How dare he tarnish the name of the Sacred Bloods.”
“What an arrogant fool.”
“And you just let him be?”
The three, excluding Athena, voiced their displeasure. The Mercenary King nodded in agreement.
“That’s why I have a favor to ask of you.”
He looked at the first-generation warriors.
“I’ve made a bet with him. When you compete, we’ll see who yields first.”
The three warriors exuded a palpable tension.
The thought of a mere high-class upstart challenging their great father filled them with anger.
“Calm down, all of you. He’s arrogant and insolent, but isn’t it exciting? It’s been a while since someone dared to challenge you and me.”
Until now, the geniuses brought by the Mercenary King had all succumbed to the second-generation Sacred Bloods.
Damian Haxen was the first to not only stand against the first generation but also challenge the Mercenary King.
It was only natural that the Mercenary King found it intriguing.
“If you can subdue that audacious fellow and uphold my honor… I’ll teach you the ultimate technique I’ve recently developed.”
The three warriors’ eyes widened at his words.
Even as first-generation Sacred Bloods, the Mercenary King hadn’t shared all his techniques with them.
He differentiated based on their achievements and talents. Opportunities to learn something new were rare.
“Father! Trust me! I’ll have him on his knees before you by tomorrow!”
“No, trust me! I’ll make Damian Haxen kneel before you!”
“Don’t trust those two. They’re all talk. I’ll show you with my actions!”
The three clamored for the Mercenary King’s favor.
He looked at them fondly before speaking.
“Thank you for your words. You must be tired, so go rest. Oh, and Athena?”
Athena looked up. Unlike the others, she hadn’t participated in the conversation.
“Stay behind. I have something to discuss with you.”
The three left the tent.
“Damn, he always calls for Athena,” grumbled Neil Hopper, the man with the dullest hair among them.
“It’s nothing new, is it? Father always favors her,” MacDowell Hopper replied curtly, equally displeased.
“So, what are we going to do?” Vanessa Hopper asked the two. She was one of the two women among the four.
“About Damian Haxen? Do we really need to decide on an order? Whoever goes first gets the prize,” Neil suggested.
“If we do that, we’ll end up fighting each other. The first one to go won’t necessarily win,” Vanessa pointed out, and the other two nodded in agreement.
All three were confident they could defeat Damian Haxen.
Or perhaps “confident” wasn’t the right word.
To them, it was as natural as water flowing downhill.
“How about this?” Vanessa proposed with a thoughtful look.
“Instead of setting an order, we change the approach.”
“Change the approach?” MacDowell asked.
“We each challenge Damian Haxen in different ways,” Vanessa explained, looking between the two.
“Like competing in magic power or control. There are plenty of ways.”
“That sounds risky. We might win, but there’s always a chance,” Neil cautioned.
“That’s the thrill of it. Winning outright is boring. A little risk makes it exciting, don’t you think?” Vanessa countered.
Vanessa Hopper’s words seemed to resonate with the others, as they nodded in agreement.
“Alright, let’s each find our own way to contact Damian Haxen… and call it a day,” she concluded.
With that, the three of them dispersed.
Once Athena and the Mercenary King were alone, he busied himself with a flurry of activity.
He retrieved some hidden desserts and even boiled water to make tea himself.
“Athena, try these. They’re your favorite desserts from Okryudang. It wasn’t easy to get them,” he said, his face full of anticipation, as if seeking her approval.
Athena, however, simply picked up a cookie and ate it in silence. The Mercenary King’s shoulders drooped slightly.
“Was the journey difficult? Any trouble along the way?” he asked, undeterred.
Athena frowned, as if annoyed. “Do you have to keep asking? You ask every time I come back.”
Anyone else would have been shocked to hear such a tone directed at the Mercenary King. His relationship with the Sacred Bloods was almost like that of a master and servants, and they all feared him.
It was unimaginable for anyone to speak to him the way Athena did.
“You seem upset. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” he said, surprisingly unoffended, trying to soothe her.
Athena nibbled on another dessert before asking, “Dad, about this Damian Haxen guy. Did he really beat the second-generation kids?”
The Mercenary King frowned at his daughter’s question. “Yes, not only did he beat them, but he also had the nerve to provoke me. Saying he’d hand over elixirs if he defeated you all… I’ve never met anyone like him.”
“So, you want us to make him submit?” Athena asked.
“Of course! I can’t tolerate anyone insulting my lineage. We have to teach him a lesson…”
“Can’t we just leave him be? It’d be a shame if he got ruined,” Athena suggested.
The Mercenary King’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What? What are you saying?”
“He’s too handsome to be ruined,” she replied.
The Mercenary King was taken aback once more. “You haven’t fallen for him, have you?”
Athena brought her thumb and forefinger close together. “Just a little?”
At that moment, the Mercenary King felt something crumble inside him.
“You foolish girl! A man’s looks aren’t everything! A pretty face is useless!”
“Then why do you always choose women based on their looks?” Athena retorted.
“Ugh,” he choked, momentarily lost for words.
“You’re not seriously interested in him, are you?” he asked again, concerned.
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of bringing a weaker man into my bed,” Athena assured him.
The Mercenary King sighed in relief, only to tense up again. “Bringing him into your bed? Where did you learn such vulgar talk?”
“From you? You always have two or three women with you,” she pointed out.
“Ugh,” he coughed, once again at a loss for words.
“So, you’re not planning to do anything about him?” he asked, trying to steer the conversation back.
“I told you, I prefer men stronger than me,” Athena said, munching on her dessert.
“Not that I’ve ever met one,” she added with a smirk.