Chapter 347: Face-off (1/2)

Even though he was inwardly seething with anger, he retained a relatively normal disposition on the outside. Only his tightly clenched fists could betray Sir Michael's true feelings on the matter.

He didn't want to admit it but truth be told, he was jealous. Even if it made no sense, as the boy he was mad at was the supposed brother, a relative, he couldn't help himself. To him, Miss Lily should be only with him, the only person who should be allowed to be near this gift of the heavens.

Yes, he was possessive, but that was just his true nature. The golden boy, the hero of Higrove, Michael had the same faults that many of the nobility had. He felt entitled, he thought that the world was his playground, its residents were his, to begin with. If he desired someone or something, it should be their honor and joy to be picked up by him.

When he saw Miss Lily back during the new joiner's meeting at the guild, he knew it from the start that she was the one. She was the muse, sculpted by the gods themselves to be his perfect, lifelong partner.

Lily was his gods-given right to own, to possess… to love. This... 'Boy' this nobody, this commoner had no rights to be so intimate with her!

Unable to watch them any longer, he unsheathed his sword and pointed its pointy end towards the calm-looking boy.

”Enough of that!” He bellowed, silencing the gathered, spectating crowd on the balcony at the same time. Taking the ensuing silence as his queue to begin one of his usual speeches, he raised his hands, looked up, as he began another theatrical, practiced speech.

”Greetings my dear friends! Today you are all invited to witness an honored duel between yours truly and a new but surprisingly well-progressing adventurer of our local branch, Aiden!”

He pointed his sword once again to the boy, who despite being called out, retained his cool. He signaled his friends and his sister to go to the side, whilst mostly ignoring the gaze of all the onlookers.

”Look at him! That scrawny piece of trash! Who gave him the right to act so arrogant?!”

”Just you wait, trash! Sir Michael will beat some sense into you!”

”Woo! Sir Michael! Please accept me as your concubine! I will give you many babies!”

”Shut up you wench! My Michael will never look at your ugly body!”

The crowd was already boiling with a mixture of emotions. Some were eager to see the boy being pummeled into the floor, beaten into submission, whilst others, mostly the girls, were eager to grab the strongest adventurer's attention. Besides his friends, no one supported the small, weakling boy.

Even though their height wasn't too far off from each other, their builds were vastly different. While Sir Michael, even without his trademark shining, golden set of armor sported a true warrior bod, with bulging, finely toned muscles, broad shoulders, arms as thick as a sturdy log, Aiden looked… thin as a fiddle.

This obviously wasn't the case, as Aiden was far from looking like a malnourished victim of famine, he was far from matching up to his opponent in terms of physique.

Sporting a friendly-looking, political fake smile, Sir Michael lowered his weapon to his side, addressing his opponent loudly, making sure that everyone could hear him.

”Boy, take out your weapon, and get ready!” then he turned to look at the hodded Sara standing at the side. ”You that you will be the judge over this fight. In that case, please step up and start the match!”

As he spoke, his weapon holding hand was already raising his blade in front of his chest, arching it in a 45 degree to give him cover, his body automatically entered a battle-ready poise.

Turning his attention back towards his young opponent, he looked puzzled when he saw him standing in the same, nonchalant, carefree manner as before, with absolutely nothing in his hands. He seemed totally uncaring about this whole event, causing Sir Michael to almost lose his cool.

He had to take several long breaths before he was able to voice out the question that burned not just his mind, but most of the spectators as well.

”Boy, why are you still standing there like that?! Grab your weapon so we can get started!” As if realizing something, a small smirk appeared over his face, he continued with a faked inquiring tone. ”Can it be that you lost your blade? Don't worry, you can borrow one from the side!”

However, to Michael's great surprise, the boy retained his friendly-looking smile as he shook his head. He spoke calmly as if he wasn't about to get into a heated battle against the best of the city.