Episode 208: Astonishment (2)
The next day, those who had been injured began to wake up one by one.
Thanks to Demian’s generous use of potions and the divine power of dawn, all the party’s wounds were completely healed.
“Wow…”
“Unbelievable…”
Mikhail and Veronica couldn’t take their eyes off the aura blade that Demian had conjured.
When Demian tilted the aura blade to the left, their bodies followed. When he tilted it to the right, they moved in unison again.
“Do you believe it now?” Demian asked, dispelling the aura blade. A look of disappointment crossed their faces.
“Brother…! You’ve really become a Master Class! That’s incredible!” Mikhail’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
To think that someone who was a Low Class when they first met had become a Master Class in less than a year. Mikhail’s awe was naturally greater than anyone else’s.
”…Master Class? You were already too strong to defeat, and now you’re even further out of reach,” Veronica grumbled, clearly displeased.
Then, suddenly, her eyes lit up as she asked Demian, “But isn’t it true that Master Class warriors have incredibly tough bodies? Can I test it out just once?”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Come on, it’s not like it’ll wear out. Just once? Please?” Veronica pleaded, only to receive a light smack on the forehead from Demian.
“Ouch! Why’d you hit me?”
“If you don’t know why, you deserve another one.”
“Ouch!”
It took a few more smacks before Veronica finally fell silent.
“Brother, does this mean you’ll be competing as a Master Class in the Helian Tournament?” Mikhail asked.
“That’s right.”
“Wow… that’s amazing…” Mikhail exclaimed in awe.
The Master Class category was considered the highlight of the Helian Tournament. To participate in such a prestigious event was an honor that any knight would admire.
“So, I have a favor to ask of you two,” Demian said, causing Mikhail and Veronica to tilt their heads in curiosity.
“Since I’ve moved up to Master Class, there’s a vacancy in the High Class. One of you needs to fill that spot.”
The moment they heard this, their faces filled with bewilderment.
“Brother… is becoming High Class something that can be done so easily?” Mikhail asked, incredulous.
“Of course not.”
“Then how are we supposed to become High Class?” Veronica questioned.
“Don’t worry. I’ll help you,” Demian assured them, retrieving a club from his spatial storage. Veronica shrieked and hid behind Mikhail at the sight of it, while Mikhail looked back at her with an exasperated expression.
“From today until we reach the Empire, I’ll be personally training you both.”
In truth, even with Demian’s exceptional skills, it was impossible to elevate someone from Middle Class to High Class in such a short time. But Mikhail and Veronica were different. With their talent, it was feasible.
“Brother… even so, becoming High Class by the time we reach the Empire is…” Mikhail hesitated.
“Why do I have to get beaten up to become High Class?” Veronica protested, clearly unhappy with the idea.
To motivate them, Demian added an enticing condition.
“Mikhail, if you reach High Class, I’ll grant you one wish.”
Mikhail’s eyes widened with excitement. “A wish?”
“Yes.”
“Is there a limit to what I can ask for…?”
“Anything.”
Mikhail’s eyes grew even larger.
“Veronica.”
“What?”
“If you reach High Class, I’ll let you test your blade on me.”
Veronica’s face went blank with surprise. ”…Anywhere?”
“Yes, anywhere,” Demian nodded, planning to protect himself with his aura anyway.
“But only the first to reach High Class will have their wish granted.”
Mikhail and Veronica glared at each other, their eyes burning with determination.
“Step aside.”
“Why should I? You step aside.”
“You still don’t get it, do you? You’re weaker than me.”
“That’s nonsense. In a real fight, you’d already be dead.”
The two of them growled at each other, and Demian watched them with relief.
‘I was worried, but they’re both fine.’
Mikhail and Veronica had nearly been killed by a Master Class opponent while still at the Middle Class level. Any ordinary knight would have been mentally shattered. But these two were more fired up than ever.
‘They really do have talent.’
Demian valued mental strength as much as swordsmanship. He had seen many geniuses with exceptional talent fall apart due to weak mental fortitude.
“Let’s get started, then,” Demian said, tapping his palm with the club.
“Yes, Brother! I’ll do my best!” Mikhail responded eagerly.
“Can I use a real sword? Please?” Veronica asked.
Demian nodded. “Alright, both of you come at me together. Let’s start by assessing your skills.”
Mikhail and Veronica charged at Demian immediately.
And they got thoroughly beaten.
“Ouch…”
“Ugh…”
Mikhail and Veronica lay sprawled on the ground, having been soundly thrashed by Demian.
“Mikhail, your senses are dull. Sharpen them. Veronica, your field of vision is too narrow. Broaden it,” Demian critiqued their weaknesses.
“I’ll give you until tomorrow to fix these issues.”
From that day on, all the way to the Empire, Demian rigorously trained them.
“Mikhail, I told you to step back there. Veronica, why didn’t you block?”
He helped them address their technical shortcomings.
“Use your head. I told you to keep your eyes open.”
He provided them with more experience through sparring.
As a result, they were called to train with Demian every day and got beaten up regularly.
“Brother! Please take care of me today as well!” Mikhail said cheerfully.
“Today… today I’ll definitely cut you down!” Veronica declared.
Their attitudes were polar opposites. Mikhail accepted Demian’s harsh training with a smile, while Veronica attacked Demian with fierce determination.
‘She’s quite cheeky,’ Demian thought, secretly putting more force into his strikes when sparring with Veronica.
“Admit it. You’re hitting me harder, aren’t you?”
“Of course not.”
“Don’t lie!”
“I said I’m not.”
“Ouch! Stop hitting me!”
Veronica occasionally rebelled, but it never escalated into a major issue. Demian always managed to ‘reform’ her.
A few weeks later, the group arrived at the capital of the Empire.
Seated on his horse, Demian gazed into the distance.
A massive fortress wall stood on the vast plains, making the royal castle of the Apple Kingdom look like a mere village in comparison.
‘It’s impressive, even seeing it again.’
Despite having seen it in a past life, Demian couldn’t help but be amazed.
“This is my second time here,” Liam Bluegreen murmured, his face filled with nostalgia.
“You’ve been here before?” Demian asked.
“I came at a similar age to yours, to participate in the Helian Tournament,” Liam replied, his eyes reflecting fond memories as he looked at the capital.
“Let’s head in, then.”
There were twelve gates leading into the capital, each crowded with people eager to enter. Demian’s group, flying the flag of the Apple Kingdom, was able to enter relatively quickly.
“We’ll need to split up. You all find accommodations. We’ll head to the Colosseum to update the participant list,” Liam instructed.
The Helian Tournament was a grand event, with participants from every kingdom on the continent. With so many competitors, they couldn’t rely on the Empire for accommodations and had to arrange their own.
Liam divided the group, sending the soldiers and knights to secure lodging, while he took Demian, Mikhail, and Veronica to the Colosseum where the tournament would be held.
The Colosseum was bustling with knights eager to compete.
“Brother, look over there. That armor is unusual,” Mikhail remarked, glancing around with curiosity.
Meanwhile, they reached the Empire’s official handling the registration. Adjusting his large glasses, the official asked, “Where are you from?”
“We’re from the Apple Kingdom,” Liam replied, prompting the official to sift through his papers.
“Ah, here it is. Middle Class: Mikhail Lionbloom, Veronica Sanche. High Class: Demian Haxen. Is that correct?”
At the mention of Demian Haxen, the surrounding knights turned their attention to him.
Demian Haxen? Could it be that guy from the Apple Kingdom?
They say he became High Class in less than a year after picking up a sword.
People began to murmur about Demian.
You idiots, do you really believe someone could become High Class in under a year?
That’s impossible. He must have spread those rumors himself.
We need to uncover the truth about him in this tournament.
Most of the onlookers were not friendly, and some were openly hostile.
“I need to make some changes to the participant list.”
“Changes?”
“There were a few developments on the way here,” Liam Bluegreen said with a peculiar smile.
“I’m moving Michael Ryanbloom from the Middle Class to the High Class.”
Veronica clicked her tongue in annoyance, while Michael looked down at her with a triumphant expression.
“Seems like you had a stroke of luck on your journey,” remarked an official, his face a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
“Congratulations. So, the Apple Kingdom will have two participants in the High Class?”
“Oh, not quite. Damian Haxen will be competing in a different category.”
“A different category?”
“He’ll be entering the competition as a Master Class.”
The official paused, blinking up at Liam Bluegreen in surprise.
“Uh… may I speak frankly?”
“By all means.”
“In the Helian Tournament, any deceit regarding one’s rank is strictly forbidden. If discovered, not only the knight but the entire kingdom could face severe penalties…”
“You don’t believe me, do you?” Liam Bluegreen’s face twisted into a wry smile.
“Damian, would you mind demonstrating?”
Damian raised his sword, Dawn, high into the air.
A brilliant blue light erupted, enveloping the blade in an aura.
-…
The entire coliseum fell into a stunned silence.
-Oh, oh… it’s an Aura Blade!
-Is he really a Master Class?
The silence was short-lived, as the coliseum erupted with the crowd’s astonished cries.