Return of the Calamity-Class Death Knight

Chapter 211

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Chapter 211: The Young Genius (2)

***

“Sir! What are you saying?”

Bradley’s face turned red with anger at the Sword Saint’s words.

“You just said that Damien became a Master Class not long ago, didn’t you!”

“I did.”

“I’ve already been a Master Class for several years! Are you saying I’m weaker than him?”

No matter how important talent was in this world, the difference in time couldn’t be ignored.

Bradley had reached Master Class before Damien.

He had trained for a longer period and accumulated more experience.

“Well, I suppose it’s natural that you wouldn’t accept it. I’d feel the same way.”

The Sword Saint scratched his temple.

“But what can I do? Everything I said is true. Damien’s physical abilities have already surpassed yours. If the gap is this wide, there’s no way to win no matter what you do.”

Bradley looked at Damien with an incredulous expression. Damien shrugged his shoulders.

‘It’s probably because of the Art of Sacrificial Raging Demon Manifestation.’

The mana cultivation technique Damien was practicing, the Art of Sacrificial Raging Demon Manifestation, had the ability to strengthen the body.

The techniques’s effectiveness increased as the battle intensity increased.

During the battle with the Weapon Master, Damien had used it to its limits. And on top of that, he had also consumed legendary elixirs.

As a result, Damien had acquired a physical body that was different from other Master Class individuals.

“……I suppose it’s true, Sword Saint.”

Despite his words, Bradley’s face was filled with discontent.

“But that doesn’t mean I’ll accept defeat without a fight.”

“Are you saying you’ll duel with him after listening to me?”

Bradley nodded his head.

“Foolish guy…… But you’re right. As a knight, how can I accept defeat without even fighting? It’s unthinkable.”

The Sword Saint turned to Damien and asked.

“What are you going to do? Are you going to accept this foolish guy’s duel request?”

“I’ll accept it.”

Damien, being a natural-born knight, often felt a sense of competitiveness when facing a famous knight.

Moreover, the man in front of him was a future figure known as the Fist King.

He was curious about how strong he was at this point, what techniques he used, and what kind of realm he had reached.

“Thank you, Sir Damien, for granting my request.”

Bradley clenched his fists, and a heavy sound echoed.

“Then let’s go outside. Let’s compete with each other at the training grounds…….”

“Who gave you permission?”

Rachel spoke up with a stern voice at that moment.

“Do you think I’d let you fight with Master Class individuals in my family’s estate, knowing it would destroy everything around? Do you think I’d permit that?”

“Haha, Lady Rachel, don’t worry about it. Even if the estate gets destroyed, my family will compensate for all the damages.”

“Oh, so you’re planning to fight anyway?”

Rachel’s lips curled up in annoyance. Bradley’s face stiffened at the instinctive anger.

“Sir Bradley, please leave for today.”

“No, Lady Rachel. We’re men who are going to fight for our honor and pride…”

“If you don’t leave, I’ll tell Father about it.”

As soon as Father, the Duke Lichteawer, was mentioned, Bradley’s face turned pale.

“…I suppose the duel will have to be postponed, Sir Damien.”

Bradley looked disappointed.

“Will you be participating in the Helian tournament?”

“Yes.”

“Great! Then let’s compete at the Helian tournament!”

Bradley puffed out his chest confidently.

“The Sword Saint said I’m weaker than you, but I won’t accept that. From today on, I’ll prepare fully and meet you at the Helian tournament. I’ll definitely win…….”

“Are you not leaving? Do you want me to complain to Father about the you?”

“…Let’s just see each other at the Helian tournament then!”

Bradley left, almost as if he was being chased away.

“…Why aren’t you leaving, Sword Saint?”

After Bradley left, Rachel glared at the Sword Saint.

The Sword Saint coughed awkwardly.

“This kid has become so arrogant. She used to call me uncle and follow me around like a puppy, but now it’s like she’s a different person.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I’ll tell Grandfather about it.”

“Ah, well, that’s a bit of a problem…….”

“Then please leave as well, Sword Saint.”

Rachel pointed to the door, her tone very firm.

“Alright, calm down. Before you leave, I’ll just wrap up my business with Damien.”

“Yes, please do.”

“Thank you. Then, Damien.”

The Sword Saint turned to Damien and asked.

***

“I don’t need it.”

Damien rejected him outright, without a moment’s hesitation.

“You’re rejecting me even after hearing who I am?”

“It’s you, old man, who’s being strange. By the time a person reaches the level of a Master Class, you should know that he doesn’t need a teacher.”

The Master Class was already walking his own path. He was not in a position to listen to someone else’s advice.

“That’s exactly why I want to be your teacher.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll become a big shot even without my help. So when you become famous, my name will become famous too, right?”

Everyone looked at Sword Saint with a dumbfounded expression at his unimaginably materialistic reasoning. It was as if they were looking at trash.

‘Ah, that’s right. He was always this brazen kind of person.’

Even in his previous life, Sword Saint was known as an eccentric. Since he was impossible to pin down, even the Dark Mage Alliance had a lot of trouble dealing with him.

“I’m kidding. As you say, the Master Class doesn’t need to learn from anyone else. But even so, there’s a lot I can teach you.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Do you know? Maybe you’ll find the clue to becoming a Grandmaster in one of the pieces of advice I give you.”

At the mention of the Grandmaster, a look of doubt appeared on everyone else’s face.

It couldn’t be helped. It was because very few people even knew the word Grandmaster.

“You’re really confident. Talking about a Grandmaster.”

“Oh, what is it? Do you know about Grandmasters? The more I look at you, the more interesting you are.”

Grandmaster meant the next level above Master Class.

However, it couldn’t be defined in such simple terms. It was a level that could only be reached after jumping over several high walls as a Master Class.

There were very few knights who had reached the level of Grandmaster.

Even knights who were called heroes or legends had not reached the level of Grandmaster and remained at the level of master class.

This was precisely why so few people knew about Grandmasters. It was because it was not well-known since there were very few people who had reached it.

‘But for some reason, this generation has produced several grandmasters.’

The Imperial Supreme Sword, the Sword Empress of the distant future, and finally the man Sword Saint standing before him were all Grandmasters.

In addition to them, there were also Grandmasters in the Church and Pandemonium.

“I don’t need it.”

However, Damien did not need Sword Saint’s advice.

Damien had already reached the level of grandmaster in his previous life.

No, he had even surpassed that level and was looking ahead to the next stage.

“And old man, you don’t have to test me in such a way.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“You’re just trying to see if you can trust me with the title of disciple.”

At that moment, Sword Saint’s expression changed dramatically.

His expression, which had been continuously feigning ignorance, suddenly turned fierce.

Damien approached Sword Saint. He whispered in a small voice.

“You don’t have to be so suspicious.The very name Pandemonium makes my blood boil! Please feel free to call upon whenever the Extermination Squad is on the move.”

Sword Saint’s eyes widened. It was as if he was asking how Damien knew that name.

‘I can’t forget.’

The Extermination Squad was a secret armed force operated by the Empire.

Their goal was to annihilate Pandemonium.

Sword Saint had been the leader of the Extermination Squad for a long time.

“……I heard you were an honorary paladin of the Church. Surely you can’t know about the Extermination Squad.”

“I heard it myself when I went to the Church.”

It was a lie. But he had to make a connection with the Extermination Squad, even if it meant telling such a lie.

Damien could deal with Pandemonium himself.

The problem was information.

Where they were now. What schemes they were plotting.

There was so much information that he didn’t know even with his memories from his previous life. That’s why Damien needed the Extermination Squad’s help.

“It’s intriguing, but…… I can’t trust you so easily. After all, dark mages are always to be suspected.”

Sword Saint said, crossing his arms.

“But it’s also true that your abilities are too precious to just cast aside. Would you like me to take some time to think about it?”

“Do as you please.”

Sword Saint turned and walked out of the mansion.

“Oh, right.”

Before completely going outside, he turned to Damien and said.

“Thank you for the water. I will never forget what happened today.”

***

“My excitement has died down….”

Rachel muttered, exhaling a sigh.

“Damien, why did you come here?”

“I came to participate in the Helian tournament, but I don’t have a decent place to stay. I would be grateful if I could stay here for a while.”

“Alright. That’s not too difficult.”

Rachel readily agreed.

Compared to the ring engraved with the family crest, it was nothing.

“But you have to train me whenever I want.”

“That’s not difficult either.”

Rachel’s expression brightened immediately upon hearing the answer.

“Really? You promise?”

“Of course.”

“Wait a minute. I’ll call some servants to guide you.”

Rachel hummed and went inside the mansion.

“Haaah.”

Michael let out the breath he had been holding as Rachel disappeared.

“Brother, is the Empire really this great?”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought there was no one my age who was stronger than me except for you, brother.”

Michael looked at the direction where Rachel had disappeared with a complicated expression.

“And that woman too…… and that man named Bradley Heath just a while ago, didn’t they become master class when they were young?”

Among the knights, there were many who lost their confidence when they came to the Empire.

Even knights like Michael, who were called geniuses were no exception.

This was because the Empire was so vast and there were so many powerful people who were difficult to approach.

The number of Master Class knights was too large to simply accept that there were many geniuses because there were many people.

Damien didn’t know exactly about this either.

However, he had heard Dorugo’s story that it was because of the oath placed on the Empire.

“You’re thinking about all sorts of useless things. You’re a genius no less than them.”

“Really?”

“Trust me. I’m good at seeing people.”

Damien said, patting Michael on the back.

“In a few years, you and Veronica will become very powerful. By then, you won’t envy the knights of the Empire.”

Michael’s face brightened with confidence.

“Veronica, did you hear that? You and I……”

Michael turned his head. And he saw Veronica sound asleep standing up.

She was standing still, her head tilted back, snoring.

“……That’s my equal?”

A look of great displeasure appeared on Michael’s face.

***

After that, Damien and others stayed at the villa of Duke Lichteawer and prepared for the Helian tournament.

Damien spent his time sparring with the Sword Empress, Michael, and Veronica in turns.

And so, time passed and the day of the tournament arrived.

***