Chapter 42

Chapter 42

It was like a devil’s temptation. A knight who kept a noble lineage from the highest place everyone looked up to. There was no greater honor for a knight than that. Just imagining it made his heart overflow, so Setchen unknowingly spat out an exclamation.

However, Leasis’ expression was very strange. She thought about it several times, but she could not understand what Blix said. Blix may be offended, but she had to correct him. There was no one in the world who was more precious. All the people were special, they were all the protagonists of their lives and the gifts given to the world.

How could he discuss the importance of life? ‘The most valuable life.’ That was ridiculous. Leasis instinctively noticed from their first meeting that Blix was not an ordinary man. Nevertheless, she liked him. From their first meeting, he had been as friendly as someone she had known for a long time, and he had tried to help her with Setchen. So she tried to understand even if it was something unusual.

However, she could not stay still this time. If she did not correct him, she would violate her chivalry altogether. Leasis said firmly.

“Blix-nim, I think you’re wrong.”

You’re wrong. It took Blix a long time to understand what she meant because it was his first time hearing it. Leasis spoke clearly.

“No matter how I think about it, what you said was wrong. There is no life in the world that is more valuable or worthless. I think everyone’s life is precious and valuable.”

Blix smiled cruelly at Leasis’ rebuttal. He looked down at the ants crawling on the ground and said sarcastically.

“Hey, Hellhard. How many humans are worse than ants in the world? To covet, take, and trample on others. Isn’t there a lot of damn things that even ants can’t do?”

Blix rolled his old shoes on the floor. Dozens of ants under the shoes were brutally trampled, but he did not change his face.

“You have to respect the value of life by treating them like human beings? You have to protect them? That’s funny.”

Leasis listened quietly to Blix. He murmured, lightly shaking something black on the bottom of his shoes. His voice was full of anger.

“I’m sorry you were wrong for the first time, but the importance of life is definitely there. I’d rather protect one worthy Emperor than become a knight of the Harknon Empire and protect those ants.”

Leasis felt sorry at his unexpected anger. Instead of raising her voice like him, she calmly organized her thoughts. Of course, as Blix said, there were wicked people in the world that acted like trash. She could not even count them with her hands.

However, no one could discuss the value of one person. Even if the wicked were punished for their wrongdoing, there was a possibility that they would change. There were no guarantee that a wicked man would live his whole life in a bad way. Reflection and enlightenment could change a person.

Leasis always believed so, and said she wanted to continue to do so. Blix snorted at her opinion. Setchen noticed the cold atmosphere between the two. Unlike before, Blix’s expression was arrogant and his breathing was as rough as scratching iron.

Blix was so angry that he did not hid his feelings. Until now, his life was thoroughly trampled, and the subjects who stepped on him were those who were not even ants. Hellhard only looked stupid, defending those men. He did not believe in a single thing he said, and rather found it disappointing.

On the other hand, everything was calm for Leasis. As she faced Blix’s cold eyes, she tightened her neck.

“As Blix-nim said, I can’t do it if I’m the only one changing, and it might be hard to change it even if I spend my whole life.”

“What do you want to say?”

When Blix asked sharply, she said in a calm voice. Then, she would try to correct the wrong things while protecting everyone, and prove the value of life with sincere actions before anyone else.

Her red eyes, which were slightly exposed through the cape, sparkled as if they were stars. He seemed to be bewitched by her eyes full of conviction. Among the many eyes that Blix had seen so far, they were the most beautiful.

“I’m prepared to give my life to protect all lives and correct what is wrong. I’ll change it myself so that the difference in opinion between Blix-nim and I can narrow down.”

The sound of catching floating clouds. It was funny but Blix asked back because it felt like a joke to him.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. I believe so.”

Leasis’ firm answer lowered Blix’s breathing little by little. His green eyes looking at her had a strange glow. What a strange thing. He wanted to ask her for an answer. He expected that she would not be able to understand until the end, but he wanted to hear it.

“How come?”

“Blix-nim. Do you happen to know that Count Dratius-nim saved the enemy’s weak people?”

Leasis smiled warmly. She slowly closed her eyes and recalled an old anecdote. Hizen, even though he was an citizen of an enemy empire, kept their precious lives faithly.

This act changed her values, as she had thought her life as a maid was insignificant.

Since then, she had realized that her life was also precious. And she wanted to convey the realization not only to herself but also to the other knights.

“I’m walking in the footsteps of Count Dratius-nim. I will not only say that every life is precious, but I will also act as an example for the other knights.”

It was a powerful and sincere voice. Blix was deeply impressed. What a pure passionate warrior he was. It was different from the bugs he had seen so far. Blix felt that Hellhard would be a stronger knight than anyone else, and at the same time coveted him. And he was looking forward to it. To the world he would change.

He’ll curse at me. As Blix’s silence grew longer, Leasis sighed with mixed feelings. No matter how good Blix was, he could get angry if she denied his opinion in this way.

At that time, an unexpectedly sweet voice was heard.

“It’s funny, but I want to believe… You know what?”

“…What?”

“It’s amazing. You are a person who gets more interesting the more I know you.”

Leasis looked puzzled. Blix slightly raised his head and approached her closely.

Blix’s eyes dimmed. For the first time, he was attracted to the dreams and beliefs of someone other than his brother and wanted to win his favor.

The breath of the two drew closer. Leasis was in a strange mood. He was definitely a short boy, but she felt like she was the one looking up.

“What do you want?”

What she wanted. What Leasis wanted was people’s peace and happiness. At her words, Blix shook his head.

“Not like that. Tell me honestly. What you want for yourself.”

“I…”

I want to learn swordsmanship from Count Dratius-nim. But it was impossible, so it could not come out of her mouth. When she hesitated, Blix spoke affectionately.

“I want to make it happen. Now, say something for yourself.”

She looked at Blix smiling and gulped her dry saliva. What she wanted for herself was Blix’s swordsmanship. At the competition, Blix had mainly used Harknon swordsmanship, but it was also mixed with things she had seen for the first time. He had pulled his sword or rotated his body in fierce and rough motions like beasts.

Leasis had seen it in a book. It was an blood sword technique coming from Utran.

“If possible, I’d like to learn Blix’s blood swordmanship.”

*

Blix was the only successor to the traditional swordsmanship.

Blood swordmanship. It was a sword technique handed down from the Utran Empire, and one had to undergo bone-cutting hardships to master it. However, most of the warriors died in the course of their suffering.

Blix did not like it. It was not that he hated people dying, but he hated wasting useless time. Even if he did not go through such a procedure, he could tell at a glance his potential. Hellhard was well-qualified to learn the swordmanship.

Blix taught Hellhard in quick steps, as he had done for his brother in the past. If the ancestors of the blood swordsmanship knew it, they would jump out of their tombs, but it did not matter.

The two participated in the gladiator tournament during the day, and practiced swordsmanship at dawn and at night. As time went by, Blix was more excited than Leasis. Her learning ability to acquire swordsmanship at a faster pace than sponge was very interesting.

Hellhard was different from the ignorant ones who thought swordsmanship was all about strength and stamina. Swordsmen also had to use their heads, and his sense and understanding were better than expected.

Blix had been tired of hearing that he was a great successor that would never ever exist again in the history of the blood swordsmanship. It was annoying, but that was right, and he took it for granted. Recently, however, Blix had no choice but to correct himself. If Hellhard had formally inherited the blood swordmanship as he did, the fame might have been Hellhard’s.

Hellhard excelled in swordsmanship. If he told him one thing, he would master more than ten. He liked blood swordsmanship, which required to use his whole body, even though learning it was a pain. Even if he had a bruise on his arm or leg and his skin was torn, he never gave up. He was passionate enough to make the teacher more excited.

Blix wanted Hellhard more and more. Should I kidnap him and take him to Utran? Or use a warlock to cast a brainwashing spell? He kept teaching him, thinking he would freak out if he knew.

Leasis aimed the wooden sword in the air as Blix had told her. Blix approached her and corrected her posture, and told her to lower her arms and eyes.

Her swordsmanship, which smelled like the Harknon Empire, had many inefficient sides. The swordplay of the Harknon Empire usually targeted the opponent’s heart, hands and legs. However, the goal of the blood swordsmanship was cutting off the neck of the opponent as hard as possible and dropping him into the abyss.

Thanks to this, the loot of the Utran Empire had long been the heads of their enemies.

“Aim for the neck.”

“The neck?”

“It’s the basic of blood swordmanship, cutting the neck. You have to cut the neck and show it to the enemy clearly.”

Saying cruel things, Blix smiled sweetly. In the meantime, Leasis had learned a lot about Blix. He hated losing and loved being strong. He had a particularly strong force, and loved the overwhelming power that made everyone kneel.

However, Leasis preferred guarding swordsmanship to destructive swordsmanship. She shook her head at Blix’s words. It was better to learn by filtering some words than to accept everything unconditionally.

Blix did not force her because he roughly grasped her peaceful disposition. He smiled and corrected her posture once again.

Setchen breathed as he looked at them. He wanted to learn Blix’s sword skills, but he was rejected in a single stroke. He even heard the sharp remark that he hated to waste time on the weak.

His pride was hurt, but he could not help it. This was because Blix’s skills were also formidable even in Setchen’s eyes. He was far superior and keen to his swordmanship teacher. It came as an overwhelming disappointment.

Leasis, who had already completed her sword training, approached Setchen. Setchen deliberately lowered his gaze and did not make eye contact with her. He envied her.

Quick-witted, Leasis also knew it. Was she not also more eager to learn than anyone else? She wanted to let Setchen know about it. However, it was an invaluable sword technique that could not be compared to light gymnastics, so she could not teach Setchen recklessly without Blix’s permission.

She stroked Setchen’s hair and approached Blix. Blix, who was staring at her, walked ahead, and the two moved to a corner.

Blix leaned against the wall and folded his arms. He already knew why he brought him here, so he wondered how he would try to persuade him. He would not just ask for his help. What would he do?

Blix was basically not interested in the weak. The only reason he was taking care of Setchen was because the two were brothers and he liked Hellhard. No matter what he said, he did not want to teach swordsmanship easily.

“Speak.”

Now, move my heart again this time. His green eyes shone provokingly.

Facing him, Leasis recalled the youngest son of the Duke of Armada. He was a boy with silver hair that reached his ears and had a noble appearance. But inside, he was like a devil. That was exactly what he looked like when he was given a new toy after breaking all his old toys. A face full of interest and curiosity.

She thought it felt also like a toy to Blix. Then she should up come with something more stimulating. Leasis said while doing light gymnastics.

“Let’s make a bet with me.”

“A bet?”

“Yes. It’s a fun bet that Blix-nim likes.”

“Tell me.”

Blix became interested and nodded. Leasis said his thoughts as if he had waited.

“I’ll use the Utranian swordsmanship and physical skills for the next fights. Let’s bet on who will beat more opponents and faster in the next three fights.”

Oh my. Are you sure you can beat me? Blix touched his mouth with his hands. Sensing his change, Leasis added in a quick voice.

“If I win, please allow me to teach Setchen some of the swordsmanship of the Utran Empire.”

The victory would be his anyway. Blix asked in a cheerful voice.

“What are you betting?”

“Everything you want.”

“Okay. What I want is for you to take off your cape.”

Due to the unexpected request, Leasis opened her eyes wide, but soon nodded.

Blix smiled and stroked the hood of her cloak. He thought he would be able to remove it soon.

“The bet starts tomorrow.”