CHAPTER 17

Mechanical Spider Goo Daesung looked up at Leon with disbelief, realizing that he had been saved. The gnoll captain's axe… had stopped mid-air. More precisely, it was trembling, held in place by Leon's fingers. 'J-just how strong does he have to be…?' The gnoll captain's strength was at least on par with a C-rank Hunter.…

Mechanical Spider

Goo Daesung looked up at Leon with disbelief, realizing that he had been saved.

The gnoll captain's axe… had stopped mid-air. More precisely, it was trembling, held in place by Leon's fingers.

'J-just how strong does he have to be…?'

The gnoll captain's strength was at least on par with a C-rank Hunter. The Seoul Station Gate was notorious as a graveyard for beginners, and this gnoll had ruled over it.

Yet Leon had not only stopped the axe with his fingers but gripped it so tightly that the gnoll couldn't even pull it free. Such a feat was impossible without overwhelming strength.

"Try again."

For a moment, Goo Daesung thought he had misheard.

"W-what…?"

"Pick up your shield. Face him again."

"???"

And then, Leon released the gnoll captain's axe.

"Now, block its attack and counter it. Quickly."

"What?! Everyone's in danger right now!"

By all logic and common sense, Goo Daesung was absolutely right. However, in the eyes of the Lionheart King, such words were foolish—so much so that they deserved scorn.

"Insolent! You dare question the guidance of the Lionheart King?"

"I—!"

Unfair! What did I do wrong?!

"As a Holy Grail Knight, it is an honor for me to instruct a mere common soldier. You should be grateful beyond measure."

Leon declared this casually, his words going beyond mere arrogance into the realm of pure absurdity. Even the gnoll beside them seemed stunned into silence.

But Leon only cast a disappointed gaze at the ignorant commoner.

"Raise your shield! Block the axe, and counterattack!"

"Ugh…!"

Because Leon had let go of the gnoll captain's axe, Goo Daesung had no choice but to raise his shield if he wanted to survive.

"Rrrr…!"

As Goo Daesung got up, the gnoll captain turned its fierce gaze toward Leon. Naturally, Leon had drawn much more aggro than Goo Daesung.

"Graaaaah!"

Completely ignoring Goo Daesung, the gnoll captain swung its axe at Leon. Just as the blade was about to strike Leon's head—

-Thwack!

"Krgh?"

The axe stopped mid-air again.

Once more, it had been caught by Leon's fingers, unable to move.

"You rabid mutt, are you insane?"

Leon's gaze alone made the gnoll captain flinch. For a while, Leon simply stared at the axe before suddenly grabbing the gnoll's shield.

His unscathed hand tightened around the shield, and an unbelievable sight unfolded.

-Crunch! Crack! Screeeech!

The metal shield crumpled, bending into the shape of Leon's grasp.

It was a horrifying display. A monstrous show of raw strength that sent a clear message:

Do not defy me.

"Whimper…"

The gnoll captain immediately understood. Wild beasts instinctively recognize hierarchy through strength.

It realized that Leon was an opponent far beyond its capabilities. And so, its anger and humiliation redirected toward Goo Daesung.

"Uh… huh…?"

What did I do wrong?!

Before he could make sense of it, the shield-less gnoll captain swung its axe once more.

"Aaaah—!"

Gasping for breath, Goo Daesung raised his shield. Clang! A heavy impact rang out, sending shockwaves through his arms.

'So strong!'

Such force! And that man had stopped this attack with just his fingers?!

"Fool! Just because you have a shield, do you think you should block purely with strength?"

Leon scolded him, watching the battle unfold.

"Never face an opponent stronger than you head-on! Deflect the attack, redirect it! That is how the weak must fight!"

Damn it, if that were easy, I wouldn't be a D-rank Hunter forever!

Still, Goo Daesung attempted to deflect the next axe strike with his shield.

He twisted the shield, angling it to redirect the force rather than absorb it directly.

–Clang!

"Ugh…!"

But theory was one thing; execution was another. The gnoll captain had adjusted its swing, countering his attempt.

"Your opponent is not a scarecrow! It is a living creature, one that learns and adapts! How do you expect to succeed with such a half-hearted effort?"

"Ugh! Damn it! Then what do you want me to—"

Thud!

Leon kicked him in the side, sending him sprawling.

"Wh-what the hell—!"

As he fell, Goo Daesung caught a glimpse of the gnoll captain's axe trajectory. If he had been focused on responding to Leon instead of the fight, his lowered shield would have left him wide open.

"Focus. Accept my advice as absolute, but never take your eyes off the enemy."

Leon struck the gnoll in the head mid-swing, stopping it cold before turning his gaze back to Goo Daesung.

"Get up."

Why the hell is this lunatic doing this to me?!

Before he could protest, Leon spoke again.

"Do not waste your potential. Draw out your true strength. You can do better."

Potential? Me?

Something about those words stirred something inside Goo Daesung.

A Hunter without an inherent skill. A D-rank weakling who had only awakened by pure chance.

No one had ever told him he had potential before. He had always assumed he had none.

But Leon's words—his voice alone—somehow inspired trust.

I can do it.

I can do it.

He lifted his shield. It was his first time using one; he had always fought with a sword.

–Clang!

Heavy. Damn, how did I deflect the attack last time?

"Keep your eyes on the enemy at all times."

Following Leon's advice, he focused on the gnoll captain's movements through the narrow field of vision behind the shield.

If he could read the axe's trajectory—!

–Clang!

This time, a sharper sound rang out, like metal scraping as it deflected.

"I… I did it—!"

"Graah!"

The gnoll kicked him in the stomach. Goo Daesung's body was sent flying.

"Tch… Pathetic. You still fail to see the whole picture."

Too focused on the axe, he had missed the gnoll's footwork. His vision blurred, and eventually, his consciousness faded.

For yet another year, he would remain D-rank.