Chapter 421: Path of True Strength (2/2)

As they finished their sparring, their points were nine to five, Kaza being the victor. Arthur smiled as the oddball came down, walking toward him in large strides.

He needed to test his recruits, after all.

***

The next training was fighting monsters in an underground dungeon, and their cores equated to points. After the training ended, Arthur learned about the punishment: to clean the sewage, the dungeon, and the academy.

As he thought that the oddball would be punished because of the smell, he surprised Arthur by faring well. As he followed after the knight, he realized the source of the scent on his body.

The nobles who were punished ganged up on the young man and forced him to do their workload. When they noticed Arthur standing a distance away to witness it, they oddly averted their gazes and didn't try to force him as well.

'I guess what happened against their strongest knight is still making them afraid,' Arthur smiled. He started walking toward the young man before that nepotist from earlier blocked his path.

”How about we have a meal together, My Lord?” he asked with a politeness that almost made Arthur nauseous. After staring for a bit at him, Arthur ignored the man and walked away.

Arthur got to meet with the oddball in a public toilet, finding him clean the stalls. The man was stronger and eccentric, so Arthur wondered why he allowed them to push him around.

”I thought you would be too prideful to let them do this to you,” Arthur leaned on the door. ”Yet, here you are. Tell me your reason, if you are okay with that?”

”You are rather annoying, newcomer,” the oddball glanced at him and resumed working. ”Kaza is the son of a baron, and he can't do anything against these nobles. I won't make him take the fall for this one, not again.”

”Then, how about you accept my offer?” Arthur smiled as he walked toward the oddball who was crouching beside the stall. The knight turned to him, confused. ”Be my knight, and I'll make sure you are never disrespected again.”

”What horseshit are you spewing?” the oddball frowned his brows. ”Are you crazy? Why would I be your knight?”

”I'll tell you when you follow me,” Arthur smiled before he walked out of the toilet. As he glanced back, he saw the knight hesitating before following after him.

They walked toward the field, where Big Bear was waiting for them. When he saw Arthur return, the knight signaled for the Junior Knights to be summoned. The knights assembled almost immediately, tired and confused.

”I believe everyone is aware that one of our Lords wants a few knights to join his ranks. So this is a great honor for all of you and a chance for you to grow.”

An aged man began introducing after the knights gathered. The oddball was confused before he joined the ranks, and only Arthur remained standing beside the group.

”Allow me to introduce myself again,” Arthur walked forward as the armor held by his spiritual energy fell apart to reveal his missing arm. ”I am the Lord of Hidden City, also known as the Seika of Living Beings. A few called me Lorius in the past, but that's not a favorite nickname of mine.”

His words made the knights shocked, and they double-checked to see if they were being pranked. However, their feelings were understandable because the Seika was a powerful entity, and Arthur was barely nineteen.

Even in Alka, and just like Earth, people as old as Arthur were mainly of the neo-rank, with talented ones being of the rei-rank. However, Arthur fought against powerful opponents and emerged victoriously.

His age was one of the rumors around him, and some even thought that he used his power to decelerate his aging. Arthur was amused by these rumors and was sure it would make a fine tale.

”I trained with you today to seek notable and promising people for my lordship. I don't dare command any of you, as a knight's free will to choose should never be taken. However, the rumors are true. I can make you stronger and beyond that.”

As the young knights' breathing became hurried at such an offer, Arthur raised his arms to share a sliver of his mana. The power of creation made the knight's eyes full of zeal.

”I will choose only five of you to accompany me, as long as they swear loyalty. If they agree, then I promise you not only strength but the power to change the world.”