Do You Really Think I'm a Kid?

"Don't get cocky! I was just careless earlier!" The female knight captain's face, usually so proud and confident, now showed clear frustration.

"Let's go again!" she shouted, stepping forward and charging at Glen once more.

This time, a pair of faint golden wings appeared behind her, and her knight's sword seemed to grow slightly longer, shimmering with new power.

Glen could feel the increase in speed as she charged, her aura intensifying. He lowered his body, preparing for the incoming attack.

The knight's sword suddenly thrust forward, and with it, a dozen other swords materialized in midair, surrounding him from every angle, blocking all possible avenues for escape!

She can do this too?! Glen's eyes widened in surprise. His leg muscles tensed as he leapt five or six meters straight up, easily clearing the barrage of swords.

Grabbing a tree branch mid-air, he used his legs to anchor himself against the trunk before launching himself directly toward the knight's back.

The knight captain, having anticipated his movement, quickly withdrew her attack. Sensing the wind rushing from behind, she summoned a massive phantom knight's shield, which appeared just in time to block his descending strike.

Landing on the ground with a heavy thud, Glen looked at the knight, surrounded by a shimmering aura, and couldn't help but feel a little exasperated. "Knight Captain, you're taking this too seriously. I'm just using a stick here. If you really want to show me your swordsmanship, fight me with your sword. This flashy stuff doesn't make it fun."

The blow he'd just landed had no real force behind it, otherwise, the wooden stick would've snapped instantly. He'd been curious to test out the level of swordsmanship in this world, but all these fancy tricks were making it hard to appreciate a real weapon fight.

"Fine," the knight captain responded with a stern look, clearly not taking his words lightly. She lowered her sword, and with a determined expression, she dispelled the shimmering effects surrounding her.

Glen blinked in surprise, his excitement rising.

"Captain!" The other two female knights called out from a distance, clearly concerned.

"Don't worry, I've got this," the captain reassured them, her voice calm but full of resolve.

With a sharp yell, she charged again, bringing all of her skill and experience into play. Every movement was precise, every strike was expertly timed. Her swordsmanship was elegant and deadly.

Glen, armed only with a simple wooden stick, effortlessly dodged her attacks, turning and twisting in the air with ease, making sure to never let his staff be broken. It was clear that her skills were exceptional, but even with the advantage of being armed with a real weapon, Glen was more than a match for her.

After several hundred exchanges, the captain's entire body had been thoroughly tested by his strikes, but she hadn't landed a single hit on him. The frustration on her face was evident as her anger built up.

Smack!

Once again, Glen's stick landed a precise blow, this time striking her backside with a crisp, satisfying sound.

The captain froze, her face flushing with embarrassment and fury. She spun around, slamming her sword into the ground. "Damn it!"

Both Glen and the other two knights were momentarily stunned by her reaction. Did I hit her there again? Glen thought to himself awkwardly, feeling a little guilty.

The captain's breath came in heavy, sharp bursts. Her teeth were clenched, and her eyes were filled with intense anger as she glared at him.

"Uh… actually…" Glen opened his mouth, about to offer some words of consolation, like "You're really strong, it's just that I'm too strong" or something along those lines, but the captain beat him to it.

"I will defeat you," she spat out through gritted teeth, before picking up her sword and walking over to her companions.

With a sharp whistle, the griffon descended in a whirlwind of wind, and the captain mounted it. "We're leaving," she ordered.

"What about this werewolf?" one of her companions asked, eyeing Glen suspiciously.

"Don't worry about him," the captain replied, her tone resolute. "He hasn't hurt anyone."

The other two knights exchanged a glance, clearly puzzled by their captain's words.

They couldn't understand the deeper feelings their captain had. Throughout their exchange with Glen, something inside her had felt an unexpected connection. Her knightly heart had sensed no malice from this creature, and there was something about him that felt… different.

When he mentioned not eating humans earlier, she found herself believing him.

Besides, she knew that Glen still had a lot of strength left untapped. If he had wanted to, he could've easily overwhelmed them. But he hadn't shown any desire to fight to the death—he'd simply been testing his skills.

With that in mind, the captain made the decision to withdraw.

As the griffon lifted off into the sky, Glen stayed silent, watching them go. I can't very well ask them to stay after I just smacked one of their butts...

As his mind wandered, the captain's voice suddenly called down to him from above. "Remember this, werewolf. I am Windsor Beyde, Captain of the Seventh Squad of the Griffon Riders. The next time we meet, I will defeat you with my own hands!"

"I'm looking forward to it…" Glen smiled and waved as they disappeared into the sky. He then identified his own location and headed off in the opposite direction.

Later, at a humble farmer's home:

The old man sat beside a chicken coop, nibbling on a loaf of bread he must have picked up somewhere. Every so often, he would take a bite, seemingly lost in thought.

A few farmers dressed in plain clothes were nearby, talking quietly, glancing over at the old man from time to time, their expressions wary.

The old man paid them no mind and continued to drift into his thoughts.

Suddenly, a small stone flew through the air, striking the old man on the knee. His expression cleared, and he turned to look in the direction the stone had come from.

Through a patch of dark foliage, a pair of glowing eyes watched him intently.

The old man seemed to relax and stood up, picking up his backpack before walking toward the bushes.

"Old man, get me a set of clothes first," Glen whispered from nearby.

The old man stopped for a moment, his expression unchanged, before walking over to the group of farmers. After a brief exchange, one of the farmers hesitantly accepted a few copper coins and ran off to fetch a set of simple clothes.

When Glen was changed, the old man finally spoke.

"Did you kill the Griffon Rider?" he asked nonchalantly.

"My killing intent isn't that strong," Glen said, rolling his eyes. "Three bombshells rode in on griffons. They realized they weren't my match and retreated."

"Most Griffon Riders are women," the old man nodded, as if this was common knowledge.

"Why is that?" Glen asked, genuinely curious.

"Because women tend to have more coordinated bodies, and they're lighter," the old man explained succinctly.

Glen nodded, understanding.

The old man suddenly changed the subject. "You should head back first. I have some business to attend to."

"Fine, but pay up first," Glen said, uninterested in whatever the old man had planned. He just wanted his reward.

The old man handed him a small bag without a word.

Glen didn't bother opening it to check, knowing it was safe. The old man wouldn't cheat him—these were their neighbors, after all.

"Do you know the way?" The old man asked, a little curious.

"Do you really think I'm a kid?" Glen retorted, his voice tinged with amusement.

The old man's only response was a faint grunt as he turned away.