volume 3 - Chapter 216 – Preparation for war 5 (2/2)

Mephisto peered back. The youth’s wits reminded him of Veronica when she was young. It was no wonder why that woman admired his brilliance.

“Captain Brendel, your enemies are indeed numerous while I only have one enemy. What do you think of this?”

Brendel blinked a few times before he laughed.

Indeed, the aloof Sword Saint of Ashes only had one enemy from the start. The Kirrlutz Empire. If he was not afraid of that enormous monster, why would he be afraid of the tiny creatures from Aouine?

“What exactly do you want from me, Ser Mephisto?” He asked.

Mephisto straightened up and asked in an earnest tone: “I wanted to ask if you’re willing to be my successor and learn my swordsmans.h.i.+p.”

“Hah?”

Brendel was instantly stupefied. He resisted the urge to find a mirror and check his appearance to see if there was any change. Why did it seem like everyone was treating him so nicely? But since he was already being taught by a Heroic Spirit, he was not too stunned by the fact that a Sword Saint wanted him as a student.

[No, calm down. Mephisto might want me as a student because there’s another attachment for me to help restore his dukedom, and he wants to restore it because it’s his duty. He’s someone rare in this era because of his purity, but this doesn’t mean that he’s a fool. I’m sure that he will protect his territory when he’s around, but he will never put all his energy into leading this country, and his ultimate lifelong pursuit is swordsmans.h.i.+p.]

Brendel’s mouth jerked once.

[But other people probably perceive me like a lord rather than a swordsman. For some reason, I get the feeling that my flashy spell cards are what people remember me for instead of my swordsmans.h.i.+p. Then again, I probably can’t match even Kodan’s pa.s.sion for the sword. If I had the experience of becoming a wizard, then I won’t choose swordsmans.h.i.+p, and instead choose a power that can help Aouine, not technique.]

This was indeed Mephisto’s reason for feeling that Brendel resembled Veronica. She was a d.u.c.h.ess and general of the Kirrlutz Empire before a Sword Saint. The name ‘G.o.ddess of Combat’ was far more famous than the Azure Sword Saint. It was why the gap between Mephisto and Veronica’s swordsmans.h.i.+ps was large, and why the former was known as a Sword Saint longer than she did.

Brendel’s head cooled down fully once he understood this point.

Mephisto’s swordsmans.h.i.+p was likely to be a skill tree of its own, and the quality was at least close to an intermediate rank or above it. Having someone as skilled as him to back him was good, let alone learning his skills.

However, he was already being taught by Orthlyss. She might ignore the Dragon of Darkness’s Legacy because he was someone from her era, and it was understandable that both of them had respect for each other, but what about Mephisto? No matter how skilled he was in this era, he could not be on an equal footing with her.

It was difficult to know what her opinion was, until she stated she did not object to it.

“I suggest you accept it.” Orthlyss felt a little satisfaction in her heart when Brendel asked for her opinion.

He did not regard her simply as a Heroic Spirit who was trapped in a ring, but a real teacher. Even though she did not really think that it was an issue, she was still pleased to find an impossibly talented youth as a successor.

“Mephisto’s swordsmans.h.i.+p is very unique and it is its own style. My view is limited to things that are a thousand years ago, and what that b.a.s.t.a.r.d Ooinn gave you was a Bloodline Legacy. In comparison, what he gave you might help you even more than what I can give you. There’s no need to pay attention to what I think. Your older sister is willing to see you become stronger.”

“Thanks.” Brendel felt a little stir of emotion in his heart. The care from Orthlyss truly resembled an older sister’s protection for a younger brother.

But he did not immediately agree to Mephisto’s request:

“I thank you for your kind intentions, Ser Mephisto, but please allow me to think about it for a day.”

Mephisto’s eyes showed admiration. He was very confident in his swordsmans.h.i.+p, and people would probably faint from glee if they heard he wanted a successor, but Brendel retained his composure. Be it a swordsman or a lord, it was necessary to remain calm at all times.

“It’s fine for you to choose, but you should know that I’m teaching you my swordsmans.h.i.+p not because you’re a future lord, or that I want your aid in restoring my land, but the fact that I indeed believe that you’re brilliant enough to inherit my swordsmans.h.i.+p. Even though I haven’t been with you for long…… I believe in Veronica’s judgment.” He paused for a moment and added in another line.

“You knew Veronica from long ago?” Brendel could not help but blurt out his curiosity, though he regretted it a little upon finis.h.i.+ng his words. It was a little too gossipy. His habits as a gamer were hard to change despite coming to this world for quite some time.

But he did not expect Mephisto to nod without minding the question: “My dukedom was always a part of the Kirrlutz Empire. When I studied in the Empire’s academy, Veronica was living next to my room.”

“d.a.m.n! Really?” Brendel yelled, and his gossip soul immediately blazed. He only knew that Mephisto was the Empire’s mortal foe and had fought with Veronica many times, but to think that they were childhood friends to a certain extent.

But Mephisto cut off Brendel’s question despite the latter’s growing questions: “Remember that I asked about when your army is leaving?”

“Yes?” Brendel looked at the stoic Sword Saint in confusion. Mephisto had an expression like it was carved out of wood.

“This isn’t actually a problem. The two Archmagi from the Silver Alliance. I have a little past with Grandmaster Tulman, or perhaps I could say he owes me one, and I can get the two wizards to help out.” Mephisto said.

“Ma.s.s Teleportation magic!” Brendel’s body jolted. It might sound a little crazy to teleport thousands of people, but it was definitely not a problem to send out several hundred. If the rest of the army took swift steeds from the Green City, then everything would be solved!

The youth delayed his trip in order to solve this problem properly. Even though the Druids were trying to gather various mounts to transport supplies, how was it possible to do so when the Calamity of Wolves just happened?

But Brendel inquired with a little hesitation and expectation after he recovered from his surprise:

“But Tulman belongs to the Silver Alliance, and they made an oath not to interfere with us mortals.”

Mephisto merely put his finger to his lips, signaling an “If you don’t speak of it, and I don’t, then who would know?”

Brendel’s jaws dropped.

[Cheating!? This is absolutely cheating…… What the f.u.c.k…..]

<script>