Chapter 16: The Dragon-Slaying Hero

Duel arena.

In a bright room.

The owner of the duel arena leaned against the sofa, his glasses emitting a white light, making it impossible to discern his mood until a glass of red wine was handed to him.

"Is that man worth so much attention?" After taking the red wine, he looked at the priest sitting beside him.

"Worth it, do you understand his experience?" the duel arena owner retorted, sipping the red wine.

Seeing the priest's curious gaze, he explained:

"When he first dueled, he had no magic power, but now his magic power is no less than that of a mage who has been practicing for several years."

"Ah... a talent, that is indeed enviable." The priest came to a realization, fully understanding why the duel arena owner paid so much attention to the duelist called Ahtal.

In historical records, it exists, one who could find his corresponding star in less than a day and easily obtain magic power.

However, that talent later became known as the Time Witch, committing the great sin of desecrating the gods, tied to the stake in the temple and burned to ashes.

Regardless of how evil the Time Witch was, her enviable talent and ultimate achievements made the value of genius clear.

"He won't become a demon, will he?" The priest suddenly said, and then saw the duel arena owner shake his head.

He held up his wine glass, as if seeing the truth through the bright red liquid.

"That man is a follower of the Goddess of Life, capable of easily using healing prayers, instead of worrying about becoming a demon, it's better to anticipate him becoming a saint."

"...a bit jealous." The priest spoke bluntly, he too was a follower of the Goddess of Life and adept at using prayers related to her, but reaching nearly the level of a saint was an impossibility for him.

Upon hearing this, the duel arena owner swirled his wine glass and elegantly took a sip: "Perhaps you should regret, his life might just end today."

"You arranged a very tricky opponent?" The priest's eyes widened, understanding well the duel arena owner's penchant for suspenseful duels, creating matches where the discrepancy in strength between opponents was never too vast.

Participants pushing each other to their limits, racking their brains, using every trick in the book—this was what the spectators and the duel arena owner wanted to see.

The duel arena owner fell silent for a moment and said, "There's a troublesome bigwig who took an interest in Ahtal's skills."

The priest frowned: "Who?"

The duel arena owner didn't answer immediately, but drained his glass of wine and said:

"Siegfried."

"The dragon-slaying hero, eh." The priest also fell silent. If Ahtal were given time, perhaps he could face Siegfried in the future, but for now, there was no chance, the disparity was too great.

"Why would you agree to such a duel?"

"..." The duel arena owner said nothing more, and the priest didn't press further; even without speaking, they both understood the answer.

Before the will of the powerful, they had no room to refuse.

...

…

Morning, the pleasant sun shone through the gaps in the curtains, casting beams on the floor, like a snake made of light.

Until the sound of the door handle turning was heard in the room.

Letixia immediately opened her eyes alertly; her green irises showing vigilance as she instinctively raised her hand, wanting to cast an offensive spell.

However, upon seeing the silver knight standing at the door, her expression quickly changed to one of relief and trust.

"Awake?" Xi Mu, seeing Letixia change from alert to relaxed, nearly confirmed that he was trusted by her.

He turned his back to Letixia and said:

"The duel is starting, I need to take you to a place where you can be safe."

"A place to ensure my safety?" Letixia became agitated, instinctively trying to get up, but pain from her ankle and wrist made her lie back down weakly.

"Lord Ahtal, if there's no absolute guarantee of victory, please don't do anything dangerous!"

She was serious, advising the silver knight at the door.

"Even if you earn the money to treat the injuries, I wouldn't want to use it for my treatment."

"No, you would." Xi Mu asserted, "Even if just to not be a burden, you will accept treatment."

Letixia: "..."

Indeed, if Ahtal really earned ten thousand gold coins, she would definitely accept treatment, even if not for herself, then for Ahtal's sake.

To let her caretaker knight suffer over a small temper was absolutely intolerable for her.

She had been feeling guilty about receiving care from Ahtal already.

"Don't worry, this is just a precaution." Xi Mu looked at Letixia, who was both resigned and frustrated, and gently closed the door.

Letixia pursed her lips, feeling increasingly stifled by her powerless situation.

She struggled to rise from the bedside and stepped down from the bed.

Since she was going to meet Ahtal's friend, she ought to dress herself up—that was proper etiquette for a lady.

Before the dressing table.

Letixia looked at herself in the mirror and suddenly realized something; she had spent the night alone with Ahtal. Even if Ahtal had intended to coerce her, she had absolutely no power to resist.

"Lord Ahtal, truly an exemplary knight." She quietly said, admiring Ahtal's character in the process.