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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
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Chapter 235
The second day of the invitation event started in a much better atmosphere than the first day.
The children, filled with pride thanks to the video of the Hero, made efforts to show their achievements, and the parents watched them with willing hearts.
And so, various demonstrations continued.
Intensive physical training as usual and practical training using various facilities of the academy.
Practical training using various ritual equipment made by Noubelmag also took place.
The finale was each party teaming up to subdue the monsters provided by the Monster Research Institute.
The Hero watched all of these processes with satisfied eyes.
‘…Excellent as expected.’
It was a repeated phrase countless times.
The children showed their skills without any mistakes, and the parents watched with admiration the polished appearance of the children.
“They are like active warriors on the battlefield.”
“They seem much stronger than ordinary knights.”
“Oh my, what happened to our children over the past year?”
With pouring compliments, the children’s expressions brightened more and more.
…The only stiff face was Luke’s.
Hwoong-
The boy swung his sword.
It had been a long time since he held a sword, as he had completely changed his main weapon to a greatsword.
Feeling the unfamiliar texture of the handle in his palm, Luke remembered the advice of the Hero.
“Your task in this observation lesson is to distract Ravias.”
“Hmm… Should I conceal my full strength during the demonstration?”
“No.”
Luke recalled the Hero’s next words.
“You should rampage like you used to.”
He completely activated the martial techniques that he hadn’t consciously used before.
Luke’s body was engulfed in a red aura, and his veins bulged so much that they showed outside his clothes.
With congested eyes and a sudden madness, his pale face turned even whiter.
Wheeiiing-!
The head of the greatsword began to crush the monsters in front of him with the sound of a swarm of bees.
The audience in the stands marveled at the intensity of the performance.
The parents near Ravias even spoke to him.
“That’s the famous Aureum Mercenary Corps’ martial technique.”
“It’s really powerful. I’d like to teach it to our family knights if I have the chance.”
“I heard that he created the martial technique himself… You’re truly remarkable!”
Ravias also had a not-so-unhappy expression.
It was because Luke had performed according to ‘his way’.
Satisfied narrowed eyes.
Luke glanced at Ravias and replayed the conversation with the Hero in his mind.
“The you that Ravias remembers and the current you are completely different. You learned Felson’s martial technique and studied my swordsmanship. And based on that, you’ve had countless real battles and duels with geniuses every day.”
It meant to deceive Ravias as if there was no difference in skill compared to before.
…Such a misconception in life and death situations would be fatal.
Moreover, he now had a secret weapon.
‘…I can do it.’
Luke tightly gripped the greatsword’s handle.
‘Life and death…’
In fact, even after deciding to do Dellum, Luke had wondered if there was another way.
Should he try to convince Ravias to stay in the West and handle the remaining missions instead of going to the East?
Wouldn’t it be better to take a leave of absence rather than dropping out?
He would return after the Second Eastern War was over.
Even now, with so many parents gathered, he had imagined a way to expose Ravias’s long-standing abuse and ask for help.
But after considering everything, Luke could only give up.
‘These are all hopeless methods.’
Persuasion?
It wouldn’t work at all.
A leave of absence was almost the same as dropping out.
Why did he follow him, knowing when the Second Eastern War would end?
The last option was to stay at the academy for the time being… but Ravias’s retaliation would surely follow.
The remaining comrades in the mercenary corps… or friends.
The relentless and cruel Ravias would somehow seek revenge.
‘In the end, the answer is Dellum.’
The sacred duel, Dellum.
This was the ‘regulation’ followed by mercenaries like national law, listed as the first regulation, and the rules and details were as follows.
Both parties must agree to start.
Once agreed, one cannot refuse the duel.
You cannot use a proxy.
If you refuse after agreeing, you will be forced to retire in disgrace.
The fight ends only when one of them dies.
As a winner’s grace, you may set conditions to spare the loser.
(But since it is usually treated as dishonorable, death is chosen mostly)
A guild witness must be present.
Before the start of the battle, any harm to the opponent’s life is considered a disqualification.
Once again going over the rules, a chill passed through Luke’s spine.
‘Father will definitely try to kill me.’
But what replaced the fear and tension was an unexpected emotion.
Thump-
The presence of the beating heart was felt more intensely than ever.
There were memories of the past ten years flashing through his mind.
People screaming in agony at the gallows due to the necks of colleagues and the results of missions,
The cruel punishment carried out behind the tents in his younger days.
The dreadful madness and impulses injected through martial techniques, and so on.
…Through such experiences, Luke had given up many things.
He had thought he would live tethered to Ravias’s reins for the rest of his life.
However, life at the academy had shown him that there was another path.
Like a mirage, an opportunity to grasp such a meaningful life.
His friends who had fought against trials without yielding showed him.
Bwoong-
With determination, Luke swung his greatsword with all his might.
Kieeak-
As the head of the last monster burst like a watermelon, the observation lesson came to an end.
Applause and cheers resounded in the practice room.
The parents in the audience stands approached to welcome their children.
… Ravias was also there.
“Hoo.”
Luke took a deep breath and glanced at the back of the practice room.
There, the guild employee whom the Hero had secretly arranged was blinking awkwardly and looking at Luke.
He looked very anxious, probably because he knew that Dellum would proceed.
It seemed as if he was asking if Luke was really going to do it.
‘…….’
Luke ignored that gaze and stood in front of Ravias.
And he spoke up.
“Father, I have something to say.”
Ravias smirked mockingly.
Then, before Luke could say anything, he spoke first.
“You’re going to say that you’re not leaving the academy, right?”
“That’s correct. And….”
Hwaak-
It was then that Ravias suddenly grabbed the back of Luke’s neck.
Surprised, Luke was led into Ravias’s arms.
It might have looked like an embrace from the side, but the hand gripping Luke’s neck felt as powerful as tearing metal apart.
“Kuk-.”
As Luke struggled to breathe, Ravias whispered in his ear.
“I knew this would happen. I knew this damn academy would instill confidence in you.”
“…Kuk, Father.”
“But it’s okay. Whether you like it or not, you’ll leave the academy and come with me. I guarantee it.”
…What on earth is he saying?
The moment Luke looked up at Ravias, feeling the pain, Ravias’s eyes flickered red.
“This is your father’s business.”
Surely not.
Luke’s pupils trembled violently.
An arrogant and cruel smile appeared on Ravias’s lips.
“It’s quite coincidental that I can touch Solintail too.”
That sentence.
The moment those words pierced his ears.
Luke forgot all the plans he had made for the past few days.
Originally, after the invitation event was over, he planned to call Ravias aside and request Dellum, offering some conditions if he won to spare Ravias.
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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
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Although the Hero objected, Ravias was the one who saved Luke’s life, as he had raised him for more than a decade.
There were even moments when he showed a fatherly appearance, albeit fake.
But Luke forgot all of that.
“Why are you working so hard? If I work a little harder, the future residents will be safer, right?”
“Do you know? Even now, there’s a new grave being made behind Solintail Castle?”
“I want to protect them.”
“Come to Solintail later, Luke. There’s a place I want to show you.”
The voice of Evergreen, which had been ringing loudly, soon disappeared.
‘Ah.’
What filled the bleached mind was something bright red.
It was at the same time that Ravias, feeling uneasy, looked at Luke with confusion.
Luke stepped back, and in the next moment, he kicked Ravias.
The series of movements went smoother and faster than he had thought.
Pweeok-
Ravias blocked the crossed arms with a kick.
However, his body was already flying through the air.
Ravias barely managed to regain his balance and landed among the astonished parents.
His face was as red as blood.
“What…!”
Confusion and anger quickly crossed his crimson face.
For Ravias, it was the most bewildering feeling he had experienced in decades.
But unfortunately, his turmoil was not over yet.
“Ravias Selsood!!!”
A cry that sounded like vomiting blood echoed loudly in the practice room.
The indoor space quickly fell silent, then soon became noisy again with a roaring sound.
The children and parents looked at Luke and Ravias with eyes filled with disbelief.
It was because the momentum was too intense to be considered a parent-child quarrel.
Jebuk-
Luke stepped forward, piercing through those puzzled gazes.
Anger, fear, injustice, hatred, regret….
Numerous emotions swept across the boy’s face, then gradually faded.
People watched in silence, not even daring to breathe.
Luke’s mouth opened only after he regained his blank expression.
“The son of the nameless, mercenary Luke requests Dellum from the mercenary Ravias Selsood.”
The sound of inhaling and short cries echoed like an echo.
Even those who were not mercenaries knew what Dellum was.
It was a life-and-death duel, and once requested, it couldn’t be avoided, a sacred duel.
The moment the boy uttered those words.
One of their lives was as good as gone.
It was then, in the back of the classroom, that the trembling guild employee stepped forward as if pushed by the Hero’s gaze.
He opened his mouth in dismay.
“Hey, mercenary Luke! Why do you request Dellum!”
Luke replied promptly.
“To no longer entrust my life, my future, and precious things to those filthy hands.”
The employee blinked his eyes tightly at the shocking answer.
Even though he has a long history as a guild employee, he has only managed Dellum a few times.
And even the Dellum between the Mercenary King and his successor.
Trembling, he turned to Ravias.
“Hey, mercenary Ravias! Will you accept!”
Ravias laughed slowly.
A fierce and cruel laughter slowly descended upon his face like a spider on a web.
“Ha, hahaha, hahaha.”
He, who had thought of him as a long-term pawn, was kicked by his son’s foot and rolled over.
…In front of numerous influential figures and the Hero.
This was… the worst humiliation for Ravias, who had finally reached a not-so-funny position.
It was also a moment when the deeply hidden sense of inferiority exploded.
“Hahaha!”
A powerful mana was contained in the laughter and echoed.
Everyone except the Hero and Zion grimaced and covered their ears.
It was the moment when Ravias’s sociable mask was completely removed.
All the calculations that had been swirling in his mind disappeared.
…In their place was a terrifying determination.
Ravias nodded vigorously.
“I accept.”
Wiiiiing-
As soon as he finished speaking, red mana swirled in his hands and quickly condensed into the shape of a huge greatsword.
“Since it’s an initiation, let’s start right away.”
After Luke’s dark eyes lingered on Evergreen, whose mouth was firmly shut, he turned to Ravias.
“Alright, you bastard.”
A fierce energy emanated from Luke and Ravias.
Wiiiiing-
Approaching with their greatswords, the two resembled each other as if reflected in a mirror.
It was a critical situation.
It was then that Felson and the former Swordmaster sprang out between them.
Before Ravias could say anything, Zion spoke up.
“We have no right to disturb your Dellum, but… Now it’s in front of the kids…. now there are children present. Do you plan to fight a bloodbath in front of children?”
Felson intervened.
“…It would be best to schedule a separate time and place.”
…Ravias’s hesitation was short-lived.
In fact, fighting a slaughter in front of so many people was more disadvantageous than advantageous.
Although he had just tried to fight without reason, it would be better to do as they said now.
His ferocious face slowly relaxed.
Ravias nodded.
“As you say.”
Then, his dense eyes turned to Luke.
“Are you okay, son?”
“……”
Luke also silently extended his hand.
After exchanging a glance, Ravias and Luke left the practice room.
Only then did the suffocating tension ease.
Their bewildered gazes finally reached the Hero.
They were curious about what expression he, who could be called the responsible one, would have.
“……”
But the Hero just watched the back of the father and son walking away with an inscrutable face.
.
.
.
One day ago.
“It’s a big deal that you’re asking me for a favor.”
The Hero nodded slowly at Zion’s puzzled expression.
“I didn’t originally plan on it, but… I need your help, Zion.”
“It’s quite a demanding request for a rematch. I’ll listen to anything reasonable.”
After hesitating for a moment, the Hero answered.
“Do you know one of Zero’s blessings, ‘Severance’?”
“…Are you joking? Of course I do. I’ve used it as a reference a lot because it’s similar to the Heart Sword and its principles.”
“Then you probably also know how to use Severance most effectively.”
“…They’re both similar, so I suppose so. Even if I’m like this, Heart Sword is something that I have been honing for decades.”
The Hero’s eyes twinkled.
“I need you to teach a child.”
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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
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