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[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
Chapter 11
Zeke was momentarily taken aback by the drunkard's words.
'He noticed my Healing Factor?'
His pupils constricted and his muscles stiffened in surprise.
But soon, the 'Unyielding Mental Defense' skill activated, allowing him to regain his composure.
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
He didn't know who the man in front of him was.
He thought it was better to pretend ignorance than to speak rashly.
The drunkard smacked his lips, checking if there was any alcohol left, then brushed his hands together.
"Hmm... So you're going to play dumb?"
That's when it happened.
The drunkard suddenly lunged at Zeke.
'An attack?'
Before Zeke could even register the attack, the man's sharp blade came flying towards his face.
Zeke rolled his body and fell under the bed, dodging the blade.
Simultaneously, he kicked up the mattress to block the man's vision.
As he landed on the floor, he reached under the bed and attacked the man's knee.
Thump!
The attack missed as the drunkard leaped into the air.
Zeke crawled further under the bed and kicked the bed frame with his foot.
Clang!
The metal bed frame was launched into the air.
Whoosh!
Zeke rolled his body and moved towards the door, the only exit.
As he got up, he grabbed the claymore he had placed beside him.
Clang!
Zeke was startled as he drew the claymore.
'What's that...?'
He saw the man balancing on the edge of the bed frame, doing a handstand in mid-air as if performing an acrobatic stunt.
The man jumped off in a stable posture, gently pushed the frame with his foot, and returned the bed to its original position.
These were not the movements of an ordinary knight.
Zeke pointed his claymore at the man and spoke.
"Who sent you, assassin?"
It was possible that other direct descendants of the purebloods had deployed this assassin to keep him in check.
The man tilted his head, picking at his ear, as he heard Zeke's words.
"The more I see you, the stranger you seem."
The man didn't answer Zeke's question and slowly approached him.
Zeke quickly closed the distance and struck with a deadly blow.
Whoosh!
It was a strike that combined the acceleration of his quick movement, the power of his deadly blow skill, and the strength of the 'Herculean Strength' skill.
But the man simply reached out and caught Zeke's sword with his fingers.
"Hmm..."
Zeke tried to pull his sword out from between the man's fingers, but it wouldn't budge.
'This is no ordinary assassin.'
Zeke immediately let go of his sword and stepped back.
The man looked at Zeke curiously, examining the claymore stuck between his fingers.
"A Draker retreats and abandons his sword?"
His voice was closer to curiosity than reproach.
Whoosh!
The man twirled his hand, and in an instant, the claymore was in his grasp.
Zeke changed his demeanor and asked the man,
"May I ask who this esteemed individual is?"
With such skill, he was at least a Blue Knight or higher.
Initially, Zeke had assumed he was an assassin disguised as a healer.
However, observing his actions, it seemed he had no intention of killing Zeke.
'If he had intended to kill me, I would already be dead.'
That's how significant the difference in skill was between Zeke and the man.
The man scratched his bushy beard and then threw the claymore he was holding towards Zeke.
Thud!
Zeke lightly caught the heavy claymore.
That's when it happened.
The man who was standing in front of him disappeared.
'Behind?'
In the blink of an eye, the man was behind Zeke.
'With this level of skill, he could be a Red Knight.'
Cold sweat trickled down Zeke's forehead.
The man placed a hand on Zeke's shoulder and said,
"My name is Dexter."
Mages were quick with calculations and excellent at adapting to situations, making them flexible and adaptable anywhere.
On the other hand, knights often lacked flexibility because they only trained with swords, and in crisis situations, they often became a burden.
Recalling what he had learned from Paynun, Zeke exited the building.
But there was someone lying on a bench outside in the courtyard.
'That person is...'
As Zeke stepped out of the building, Dexter slowly got up from his spot.
Scratching his bushy beard, he looked at Zeke and said,
"The more I see you, the more interesting you seem, kid."
Zeke addressed Dexter,
"What brings you here, sir?"
Dexter, getting up, said,
"Kid. Didn't you hear what I said back then?"
Zeke looked at him directly and replied,
"Yes, I did."
Dexter looked at Zeke in disbelief.
"Huh... then why didn't you come to the greenhouse?"
Zeke said in a calm voice,
"I was busy with personal training."
At his words, Dexter's jaw dropped.
Then, after a moment, he closed his mouth and seemed lost in thought, before lifting his head and looking at Zeke.
"Is that so."
Suddenly, Dexter's body disappeared.
Even with his combat senses heightened, Zeke missed Dexter's movement.
Then, Dexter, appearing from behind, lightly tapped Zeke's neck.
"Th..."
Damn it.
Zeke couldn't finish his sentence and collapsed.
Dexter took the unconscious Zeke and disappeared somewhere.
***
"Ugh..."
Zeke finally regained consciousness.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw an intense green scent and lush leaves.
Zeke abruptly sat up.
'Was I kidnapped?'
He looked around.
"Where am I?"
He was inside a building made of glass, where countless plants and trees were growing.
"Kid, are you feeling better?"
Turning his head, he saw Dexter watering the plants.
Finishing up, Dexter gulped down a potion mixed with alcohol.
"Ugh!"
A strong smell of alcohol wafted through the air.
Zeke spoke to Dexter,
"Did you kidnap me?"
Dexter put down the watering can and replied,
"Yeah, that's right. Kidnapping."
At his words, Zeke calmly scanned his surroundings.
'There's one escape route at the back, one to the east, and one across from me.'
Instinctively identifying the escape routes first, Zeke slowly started to move his body.
Seeing this, Dexter grinned.
"Why are you trying to escape?"
His figure disappeared again.
Zeke instinctively rolled his body to the side.
"Oh my, but I'm right here."
Dexter appeared on the side Zeke had rolled towards.
Zeke regained his stance, wary of Dexter.
"Just who are you?"
Dexter grinned.
"I'll tell you if you can catch me even once."
Dexter gestured towards Zeke, as if inviting him to try and catch him.
Looking at Dexter, Zeke was actually thinking something else.
'Good. He took the bait.'
Outwardly, he was a thirteen-year-old boy, but inside, he was a seasoned warrior who had gone through all sorts of hardships.
'Dexter is an alias.'
Zeke already knew his true identity.
That's why he deliberately didn't go to the greenhouse and instead led him to come find him.
'His real name is the Gale Knight, Duke Draker.'
Zeke gulped as he looked at him.
'In the past... he was a Black Knight of the Draker clan.'
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]