Read Novel Full Chapter 593: A Hound that tried to Assert itself?
Chapter 593: A Hound that tried to Assert itself?
The Legacy Table continued to move on as Damien showed everyone around; soon, it was assisted by the event organisers, who had finally decided to step in.
This event, while appearing more like an extravagant mixer in Lillian’s eyes, also had other purposes - to see which noble was the most beneficial to stick with.
While they didn’t know each other’s family names or weren’t completely sure if their guess was right, they all tried to get to know each other.
And what better way to get to know another person than through physical contact? In otherwords, combat.
CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.
There were several kinds of physical activities that all nobles had in common growing up; some variant of swordsmanship.
Since people who strived for large things in the future stuck around reliable allies for the purpose of diving into Gates, this sort of activity was almost expected - especially with a group of nobles like these.
’It’s weird...’
Lillian, who was spectating the matches held by the nobles far off to the side, found herself puzzled by their stance and movements.
These were nobles of esteemed families and had access to the greatest teachers and resources.
CLANG.
So why was it that...
CLANG. CLANG.
Why was it that she found their movements so particularly dull?
Lillian could see that the average mage Tier was around two on the training ground, so why did she feel that every noble here was so bland in their attacks?
’Ah, I remember now...’
With a crooked smile, Lillian remembered a key piece and also well-known information amongst nobles.
They tend to hire people to help them through Gates.
So - unlike her, who struggled and fought with her life on the line several times over - some of these guys all hid behind their workers and let them do all the work.
In other words, some of these nobles were getting carried!
’Money does make everything easier, I guess...’
"Incredible...! You’re quite skilled with the sword, sir Damien!"
Well, not all of them had an easy time through a Trial, at least.
Having disarmed and knocked a nobleman to the ground with his sword, Damien smiled comfortingly as he pulled the noble back up to his feet - patting the man’s shoulder.
Damien chuckled:
"Haha, I’m only above average at best. I still have a long way to go before I could truly call myself skilled."
Watching him from the side, Lillian furrowed her brows with a twitchy face.
’Damien Von Darkhound... You say you’re only above average, but I’m sure you’re revelling at the attention you’re getting.’
In secret, Damien was trying to establish an aura of dominance and oppression over the other nobles. And it seemed like his plan to do so was much easier due to the fact that the nobles he fought were the ones who got poisoned.
"You mustn’t be so humble, Sir Damien, your talents with the sword truly back up your title of prodigy!" The nobleman exclaimed.
Damien shook his head, silently noting the crowd appearing around him.
"My talents with the sword weren’t the thing that granted me the title of Prodigy, my dear friend; it was actually because of my show of strength from an early age."
Damien then began to brag about his measure of strength, using his fight against a Tier 1 mage as an example. Then, he added in a charismatic manner:
"But I am grateful you recognise my strength." Damien then paused as he glanced to the side. "In fact... I think we have a prodigy of the sword here with us today..."
Off to the side, Mizuki - who had been trying to get to know the nobleladies around him better - found himself the target of attention.
Walking over to him, Damien smiled as he held a hand out to the Scion of Kirisaya.
"You and I haven’t yet been acquainted, correct, Sir Kirisaya?"
Mizuki shook his hand; his lips smiling wryly.
"I don’t believe we have met each other before. And have you already figured out my identity?"
"Only your family name." Damien chuckled. "Is it possible I could request something from you?"
Mizuki raised an eyebrow before nodding curiously, "Go right ahead, I’ll be happy to listen."
While gesturing towards Kuro, who stood closely behind the Scion, Damien asked with an amiable smile:
"I would like to test my skills against your attendant, given that he is also someone granted the title of Prodigy."
Kuro, who had been measuring the level of Damien’s swordsmanship beforehand, grimaced in his mind.
He had been observing the man Darkhound closely, trying to gauge the level he was at. However, due to the lower skill levels of the people Damien fought, the information he gathered was more or less invalid.
It was even more invalid, considering that Damien knew about him.
Locking eyes with the Darkhound, he sensed a dark smile from within the man’s pupils.
’He had anticipated that I would be trying to measure his strength...’
The Darkhound’s request for a spar wasn’t no ordinary request, but was in fact a subtle way for him to say:
"It’s not fair that only you can gauge my skills. How about we make it fair for the both of us?"
Kuro’s lips then unconsciously curled downwards, ’He also has ulterior motives...’
He may be thinking too deeply about this simple request, but he felt like Damien Von Darkhound was trying to display some level of dominance over them.
By announcing which family Mizuki belonged to, Damien had averdently laid a trap for them.
If either he or Mizuki refused the request for a spar, it would damage the reputation of the Kirisaya family, giving them the image of being scared or hesitant.
However, if either he or Mizuki accepted and he would possibly lose, then it would also damage their reputation, weakening their image.
In a battle of purely swords and skill, Kuro was not scared or apprehensive about the outcome. Instead, he was uncertain whether or not Damien would play fair.
Without information on Damien’s abilities and ways to prove cheating, Kuro was left vexed.
’What an annoying dog you are, Damien Von Darkhound...’ Kuro clicked his tongue as he looked towards Mizuki, who had also come to a similar conclusion.
"So, have you made a decision, Sir Kirisaya? It’s not an issue if you don’t accept such a spar." Damien smiled kindly like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Mizuki gave an exasperated look as he glanced back at his friend before making a decision. The better option would be to try to hide the extent of their abilities.
"We—"
But before he could give his answer...
"How about I spar with you on their behalf?"
Everyone turned their head as a woman with long black hair, red eyes, and a cold expression slowly approached them from the side, elegantly holding a sword.
"If I recall, I, too, hold the title of Prodigy. I’m also quite skilled with the sword myself, Sir Darkhound." Marionette said in an emotionless tone.
She then stopped in front of Damien, staring him dead in the eyes.
Kuro and Mizuki froze as confusion splashed against their face like cold water.
Why was this woman coming to their defence?
Damien stared back at Marionette, his eyes locking with the woman’s beautiful red eyes. The amiable smile he had on his face soon receded, disappearing.
Then, it returned as he shook his head after a second of pause.
"No need, miss. In fact, I believe our time on the training ground is coming to an end - how about continue on with today’s portion of the event?"
He then went off, followed by the crowd of nobles who passed by them, only throwing subtle glances in their direction before facing forward to see where they were going.
The Scion and Sword Genius continued to look in Marionette’s direction with curious looks in their eyes.
Marionette gave them a taciturn look before snorting, "I was bored and told to help you. That’s all."
Mizuki raised an eyebrow, finding the woman before him rather familiar. He then smiled slightly and nodded, "We owe you one as thanks."
After giving an acknowledging glance, Marionette waltzed back to Lillian’s side, who was slowly waving at the Sword Genius and Scion.
Earlier, when Lillian had noticed they were having trouble, she had requested Marionette to deter the Darkhound. And considering that the Assassin was bored and had nothing to do, Marionette did it without much question.
’I’ve learned a bit from this, though.’
Unlike in the game, where Damien would proactively try to win over Marionette’s attention somehow, he was actively avoiding her here.
Lillian smiled internally, rubbing her chin as she muttered, having already possibly deciphered the reason for Damien’s apprehension towards Marionette.
"It seems like he went through a few resets today~..."
When Marionette finally reached her side so that they could follow along with the crowd of nobles, Lillian still kept a keen eye out.
She had yet to find the three nobles that Marionette walked with earlier.
...
"There were signs of battle here."