Side Story Chapter 320

Side Story Chapter 320

“The gate to the inner courtyard is opening!”

Gyo trembled with excitement. Even though he had proposed the duel, he had been skeptical about whether Lilith would take it or not. She might be called the Silver-Eyed Ghost Sword, but it was impossible for her to take on five Masters on her own. Although her choice actually didn’t matter. Gyo and his people were already in the palace; if Lilith had refused, she would have become a laughingstock.

A handsome man who looked barely over thirty walked out from the gate. Discover new chapters at novelhall.com

“You’ll fight me first,” Cain said.

Because of his overly normal appearance, Cain had requested a Reipon from Iceline which would make him appear as handsome as his master. He wanted to try living the life of a handsome man.

“Huh? I don’t recognize him.”

“Was there a paladin like him?”

Jugir, one of the five Masters on Gyo’s side, frowned. “Hah, he reminds me of that pretty boy I ran into back then. I want to kill him.”

He had a complex about his ogre-like appearance; pretty boys always set him off.

“I would like your permission to go first, sir.”

Gyo nodded at Jugir. A handsome appearance didn’t necessarily mean that the person was skilled, and such a young man wouldn’t be a Master. Jugir would blow him away with one swing of his greatsword.

“It’s important to crush our enemies psychologically before the competition begins. It looks like they sent him to check our level, so defeat him with one attack.”

“Yes, sir.” Jugir strode forward. Although he hadn’t noticed before because his opponent was half covered by a cloak, Jugir realized as he got closer that his opponent also used a greatsword—one a lot bigger than his own, even.

“Hey, boy. Can you even swing that sword?” Jugir scoffed. “What? Cat got your tongue? Wait a minute—you must have wet your pants because you’re so awed by me.” Jugir chuckled. “Don’t be too scared. I’ll finish you in—”

The last thing Jugir ever saw was a ray of light flickering across his vision.

“...Huh?”

His head flew into the air, still looking confused.

“Next.” Cain gestured at his enemies.

The fight made everyone’s jaw hit the ground. Lilith’s first champion was obviously vastly more skilled than he looked. The paladins on the ramparts were cheering, and the city’s citizens, who were watching the fight from a safe distance, began to murmur among themselves.

“He’s q-quick!”

“That idiot! When his opponent’s specialty is speed, he should have attacked as he approached his opponent, not taunted him!”

The sound of the rebel knights panicking brought Gyo to his senses.

“Aaren, it’s your turn now!”

“Yes, sir!” Aaren went running toward Cain. Unlike Jugir, his guard was raised to the utmost.

However, his preparations didn’t change the result of the right. Before they had exchanged a hundred attacks, Aaren’s head was rolling across the cold, hard ground.

“Next.”

Gyo couldn’t believe what was going on. He would have been appalled if he realized that Cain was actually going easy on Gyo’s knights. In truth, Cain could have taken his opponent’s head within ten attacks.

“S-Something is wrong, sir. I didn’t hear anything about a paladin this skilled still in the palace.”

“Shit...!”

Unfortunately, the rebels could not back out of this competition. If Gyo ordered his people to attack, they would ruin any legitimacy they had. That would make it extremely difficult to rule the empire even if they defeated Lilith’s forces that way.

“Whew...”

Gyo’s ears caught the opponent’s labored breathing. His eyes narrowed. “He’s tired.”

“Say again?”

“Look at him. His energy is much less controlled than before, and he’s covered in sweat.”

“Y-You’re right...”

Cain took action at the speed of lightning.

“What?!” Jake, shocked, hastily tried to counterattack. However, it was futile. Cain shed his feigned fatigue and cut Jake’s head off in the blink of an eye, showing the rebels that he had been playing with them the whole time.

“Wh-Who in the world... are you?”

The rebel knights stumbled backward, their will completely broken. Cain didn’t spare them a glance; he was walking back to Lilith like it was already over.

He flicked the blood off of his sword.

“...I’ll get going now.”

“H-Hold on!” Lilith stammered. “You’re going to leave now?”

“For Hubalt’s sake, it’s best I remain anonymous so that you can use me to keep those buffoons in check.”

Hubalt would undoubtedly suffer more losses than benefits if the rebels discovered who Cain was; once again, it would look like Hubalt was so weak that it had to rely on foreign help.

Lilith let out a sigh.

“Then can I ask where your next destination is, Sir Cain?”

“I’m a wanderer, so I’ll go where the road takes me.”

Lilith contemplated that for a moment.

“What do you think about actually becoming Hubalt’s secret weapon?”

Cain tilted his head in confusion. “What are you talking about, Ghost Sword?”

“I want to recruit you.”

“Recruit me...?” Cain blankly murmured. He scratched the back of his head. “It’s embarrassing to say this myself, but I’m quite expensive.”

Cain was experiencing his first taste of freedom at the very twilight of his life,, so he wasn’t about to give it up even for a million gold.

“In return, I’ll help you get married before you die.”

“Get married...?” Cain looked tempted.

“Since you’re free anyway, you should try out everything that other people do. And to be honest, most senior homes wouldn’t take you in because you’re too old.”

Cain’s eyebrow furrowed. He looked no older than forty, so Lilith would probably be wrong. Besides, he was still young at heart too.

However, Cain had one very real issue: women of his age were all old enough to have grandchildren, and Cain would feel extremely guilty trying to hit on someone young enough to be his granddaughter.

“Although I’ll call you Hubalt’s secret weapon, you don’t have to do anything,” Lilith quickly decided. “You prefer it that way, don’t you?”

“I haven’t dec—”

“I respect that you’ll only have one master, so you’re going to be at Hubalt as a free knight,” Lilith interrupted. “If you wish, you can remain a man of Avalon.”

Her terms were not bad at all. Even though he was going to receive a title, he wouldn’t have to bear any obligations. Since it wasn’t a job that he had to put any work into, he could still travel the world if he wished.

“...But how did you know I was looking for a date?” Cain asked.

Lilith gave Cain a knowing look and grinned. “You said it yourself, didn’t you? Misery loves company.”

“Huh?” Cain’s eyes slowly widened. “...I didn’t expect the Ghost Sword to be eager to have a date.”

Lilith pouted. “Of course I am; I just never had time to date anyone.”

“It’s a real sin to not date with your looks.”

“Oh, my.” Lilith gave him a mischievous look. “I wasn’t telling you to seduce me.”

“I was just speaking the truth,” he casually replied.

They never would have imagined it right now, but Cain ended up staying at Hubalt a lot longer than both of them expected. And they didn’t have to search far to get a date.