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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Kawaii]
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Chapter 153: Fafnir (3)
***
The purebloods were shocked by the Mercenary King’s words.
It wasn’t that Damien had walked away first, but that the Mercenary King had stopped the test first.
To the purebloods, it meant that the Mercenary King had acknowledged that they could not defeat Damien.
“Everyone, go back and rest.”
The Mercenary King immediately gave the order to rest.
“And Damien, come with me.”
The Mercenary King took Damien into a tent.
It seemed to be a place where he entertained guests, as there was a large table inside.
And there were various works of art scattered around. Judging from the variety of items, it seemed that they were collected from various countries.
“Sit down on any chair you like.”
The Mercenary King said, not even looking at Damien. His slightly rough breathing showed that he was still angry.
Damien sat down on a chair as the Mercenary King had said. He leaned against the backrest and waited for the Mercenary King to speak.
“You put on a great show, didn’t you? When you said ‘I’ll face anyone who comes out with the same weapon’. I’ve seen countless geniuses so far, but I’ve never seen a guy like you!”
The Mercenary King’s face was full of anger.
It was only natural, as the purebloods he was so proud of had been defeated helplessly by Damien.
‘No, it’s not that he’s angry because the purebloods lost.’
The Mercenary King had a very strong sense of pride in his bloodline.
That’s why he was angry that the defeat of the purebloods felt like an insult to him.
“I can see that you’re not happy with my actions.”
“What are you talking about? Who’s angry? I’m not angry at all!”
The Mercenary King’s eyes were boiling like lava as he spoke.
“I apologize.”
Suddenly, Damien apologized from his seat. The Mercenary King made a bewildered expression.
“I was lacking in judgment. I should have at least drawn my sword…….”
The Mercenary King’s face flushed even redder at Damien’s mockery.
“You… you arrogant bastard! Don’t get ahead of yourself! The guys you fought aren’t all the purebloods!”
The Mercenary King shouted as if he was about to explode.
“The purebloods who fought you today are all my grandchildren! They’re just the second generation with diluted blood! My children, the first-generation purebloods, are several times more outstanding than them!”
I had heard about it in my previous life.
It was said that there was a hierarchy even within the purebloods that the Mercenary King was so proud of.
The Mercenary King’s children were called the first generation, and his grandchildren were called the second generation. The reason for this division was because the dragon’s bloodline became weaker and weaker as it was passed down through the generations.
The first generation had much thicker blood than the second generation, being the children of the Mercenary King, and as such, the characteristics of the dragon were also strongly manifested.
In fact, the core force that supported the Fafnir Mercenary Company was mostly made up of first-generation purebloods.
“No matter how strong you are, you’ll realize how insignificant you are when you meet the first generation!”
The Mercenary King spoke with a confident face. He seemed to have no doubt that the first generation would surpass Damien.
“So… are you saying that you will put me up against the first generation?”
“Why? Are you scared?”
“I heard that the first generation is older than me and that there are even master classes among them… Don’t tell me you’re going to…”
“What are you talking about? Am I crazy? If I put a high class and a master class together in a fight, the whole world will laugh at me!”
The Mercenary King roared as if it was ridiculous.
“There are many first generations who are about the same age as you! They are also high class, so it’s appropriate. They are all out on missions right now. … They will be back soon, so you better start preparing!”
Damien looked at the Mercenary King with a disgusted face. So, he meant that he had children who were about the same age as his grandchildren.
Although he looked like a boy, it was still shocking. He seemed to be a real human who was famous for his lust.
“Alright, then give me the Hundred Year Snow Ginseng that you promised.”
“You little brat. I’m talking and…”
The Mercenary King opened a subspace. He took out a ginseng that was smaller than a baby finger.
It was a shabby-looking thing, not worthy of the name Hundred Year Snow Ginseng, but Damien didn’t care.
It was natural for ginseng to be this small even after a hundred years because it only grew in harsh environments.
From what Damien knew, it was said that only Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng could be considered large.
“Take it! It’s the Hundred Year Snow Ginseng I promised!”
“Thank you.”
Damien took the Hundred Year Snow Ginseng and put it in his subspace. The Mercenary King looked at Damien with a hateful face.
“I called someone outside. He will guide you to the tent where you will stay. Go in and rest for today.”
The Mercenary King turned his body away as if he didn’t want to see Damien’s face any longer.
It was something he shouldn’t have said to the Mercenary King, but he couldn’t help it.
So far, Damien had no bargaining chips. But now that he had greatly scratched the Mercenary King’s pride, it was different.
“Didn’t you initially say that you would give me Hundred Year Snow Ginseng as a hiring fee and that you would increase the price depending on my future performance?”
“That’s right.”
“I would like to change that condition.”
The Mercenary King looked back at Damien. He had an expression as if he wanted to ask what the nonsense was.
“If I defeat all the purebloods here, give me Dragon blood essence or an elixir equivalent to it.”
***
“No,” the Mercenary King cut in sharply, rejecting Damien’s request.
“Dragon blood essence? Or Elixir equivalent to it? Do you have any idea how valuable those are? Why would I give them to you?”
“In that case, I suppose I’ll take my leave.”
The Mercenary King’s eyes narrowed at Damien’s words.
“What are you talking about?”
“I mean, I’m leaving.”
“What do you mean, leaving? It’s only been a day.”
“Well, I never promised to stay for any specific duration… And the purebloods turned out to be less interesting than I anticipated.”
Damien’s words ignited a fire in the Mercenary King’s eyes.
“You… saying the purebloods are uninteresting? You haven’t even seen the first generation yet!”
“Why would I bother seeing them?”
“Aren’t you curious? Who among you and those guys is superior?”
“I’m not curious.”
Damien spoke earnestly.
After all, the hierarchy of talent was obvious even without experiencing it firsthand.
There was no genius in this world greater than Damien.
“You… and you call yourself a knight?”
“Then I suppose I’m not.”
Damien rose from his seat. The Mercenary King stepped in front of Damien, blocking his path.
“You! Are you trying to embarrass me and run away?”
“Why are you acting like this, Mercenary King? Come to your senses.”
“No! I can’t allow that!”
The two stared at each other for a while. Eventually, the Mercenary King conceded.
“You stubborn brat… Fine! I’ll accept your conditions!”
“Really?”
“Yes! Really!”
“In that case, I guess I have no choice. Since the Mercenary King is earnestly asking, I’ll continue to stay here.”
The Mercenary King stared at Damien incredulously.
But soon, he smiled with a hint of regret.
“You obstinate fool… You’ll regret not leaving soon. When you meet the first generation, even you will submit.”
“Are the first generation really that strong?”
“Of course! They inherited my blood and were personally trained by me! Calling them my disciples wouldn’t be an exaggeration!”
The Mercenary King boasted proudly. Damien responded with a skeptical expression.
“Well, I don’t think there’ll be much to talk about once we actually fight.”
“Have you fought them? Huh? Have you?”
“Then care to make a wager?”
Damien spoke in a subtle tone.
“If I yield to the first generation as you say, I’ll not only return the Hundred-Year Ginseng, but also follow any command you give me.”
Then Damien added one more thing.
“However, if the first generation yields to me, along with the elixirs, I request you to grant me one of the Mana cultivation techniques you’ve collected.”
The Mercenary King’s hobby was collecting techniques.
Thus, his study was filled with various rare techniques gathered from all over the continent.
“Hahaha! Your arrogance knows no bounds! What? You think the first generation will yield to you?”
The Mercenary King chuckled, seemingly certain that such a thing would never happen.
“Oh, they will! Trust me! Don’t regret it later! You better be prepared to hand over everything you receive!”
Damien smiled meaningfully.
“That won’t happen.”
***
Outside the tent, a familiar face appeared.
It was Cynthia, the woman who had shot arrows at Damien on the Mercenary King’s orders the other day.
Cynthia was carrying a bow on her shoulder and smoking a pipe.
“Follow me.”
After uttering a short word, Cynthia took the lead. She didn’t even check if Damien was following her.
Following Cynthia, Damien felt a strange feeling inside.
‘It’s the first time I’ve seen the Bow Demon this close.’
Cynthia, the Bow Demon.
She was one of the confidantes who guarded the Mercenary King in her previous life.
The reason why Cynthia, who was not a pureblood but an ordinary human, could become the Mercenary King’s confidante was very simple.
It was because she was better than the purebloods.
“You’re going to make the first-generation purebloods submit?”
Cynthia suddenly spoke. It seemed like she had overheard the conversation between Damien and the Mercenary King.
“You made a reckless bet.”
Damien looked at Cynthia with an interesting face.
Even in her previous life, Cynthia was a very taciturn woman.
So much so that she didn’t say a word to Damien until the moment he took her life.
Even the taciturn Cynthia seemed to find Damien’s bet ridiculous.
“The first-generation purebloods are all geniuses. Half of all the first generations have risen to the master class.”
In the Apple Kingdom, a master, which they had not a single one of, was considered a fairly common talent here.
That’s how great the benefits of the dragon’s bloodline were.
“But the Mercenary King said that the first generation I would be competing against is high class.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. Do you know who is among the first generation that the Mercenary King mentioned? There is one outstanding child who is even considered a candidate for the successor.”
Damien was intrigued by Cynthia’s words.
That’s because there was one person who came to mind when she mentioned a candidate for the successor.
It was the second Mercenary King.
After Damien killed the Mercenary King, one of his children inherited everything and took the place of the new Mercenary King.
And surprisingly, she showed even greater skill than her father and drove back the undead army.
Athena Hopper.
People called her a greater warrior than her great father.
‘I guess it was genetic transcendence.’
The dragon’s blood, which should have weakened as it was passed down through the generations, was actually flowed more strongly in Athena Hopper.
She even possessed the ability to transform part of her body into that of a dragon. This was something that even her father had not shown.
Damien also had memories of having a much harder time fighting the second generation than the first.
“I didn’t know you would be worried about an outsider.”
“I just can’t let such a stupid thing go.”
As Cynthia spoke in a stiff tone, the entrance became noisy. Cynthia looked over there.
The distance from here to the entrance was quite far, but it was no problem for a master class like her.
“That guy just came back.”
Cynthia asked Damien.
“Would you like to take a look?”
***
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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Kawaii]
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