Chapter 95 (2/2)

It was the vice-captain of the Guards.

Count Ferrero.

One of the seven Sword Masters in the Empire, a neutral noble.

With a beard that looked similar to a bandit, he stopped them by putting his palm in front of Juan and his friends, not bothering Philip.

The three of them turned white as a marble in front of the count.

Count Ferrero began to beat up the three of them who didn’t even try to defend.

Puck! Puck! Puck!

“It isn’t enough for you two guards to make a duel with another who seemed to be at the top of his game, but you two pulled your swords against one person? Do you people have any sense of duty and respect to being Guard Knights?”

“Ahh!”

“Kuak!”

“Please, Please let me be!”

“Oh my, you want me to let you be? I’ll let you guys be and then make sure to fix those attitudes of yours, too. Go back to the Knight’s Headquarters right now!”

The three of them ran away the moment Count Ferrero ordered them.

“Vice-captain…”

Philip formally greeted Count Ferrero.

It was because the Count was the one who had defended Philip when everyone was against him.

Ferrero looked at Philip from top to bottom and said,

“You have improved a lot in the time that I haven’t seen you.”

“I still am very far away from the skills vice-captain possesses.”

“Don’t talk like that. We lost what could have been a good Sword Master just because of a noble… How about this, Philip? If you want to, I can get you back into the Guard Knight.”

Of course, it sure was a difficult task.

Even if he was indeed a Vice-captain, it would be very difficult to reinstate a person who had left the Guards after a rather infamous past.

But since a lot of time had already passed, people could have forgotten about it.

However, one person had objected Ferrero’s request.

“That isn’t possible!”

“You are?” Asked Ferrero.

Luke sneaked from behind Philip and introduced himself.

“Luke de Rakan. Philip had sword allegiance to me till the day he dies and said he would never rejoin the Knights of Guard.”

‘Hoh, look at him?’ Thought Ferrero.

Ferrero looked at Luke’s face.

He had no concern as Luke looked like a kid, but he could feel strong waves from Luke.

‘Maybe he is stronger than Philip.’

Count Ferrero thought for a moment and suggested to Luke.

“I am Vice-captain, Count Ferrero of Knights of Guard. Would you duel with me?”

Ferrero was known to have a boneless body. He was the kind of man that only fought against the strong ones.

Which was why he never felt like there were any strong men in the Capital, and there was no one who could go against him.

But Count Ferrero was feeling different that day.

It was like a new challenge had appeared, and his eyes began to shine like the ones of a beast.

“I don’t want to. Why should I even fight with you?”

In fact, Luke wanted to verify his skills as well.

He had to go against someone strong to measure his skill, and Luke saw a suitable opponent right in front of him.

But to fight him, a Sword Master, he would have to use the dark magic that be had taken from the demons.

Other places might be different, but for a person to use dark magic in the Imperial Palace itself, he would be run over.

“I am a Sword Master. Going against me will help you a lot. I can even give you some advice after our duel.”

The guidance of a Sword Master could never be received by the Knights.

Which was why Count Ferrero decided that Luke would accept his offer.

However, his assumption was wrong.

“I refuse. I am under the orders of the majesty, and I need to go to work as soon as possible.”

“I’m sure the majesty will understand if you are away for a few minutes.”

“It is annoying.”

“Then I’ll give you a sword made of Ergen alloy…”

“I told you that I don’t want…”

Luke went away from the persistent Ferrero and walked out of the palace.

At that response, Count Ferrero looked at the unexpected situation and laughed a little.

“Oh my! That Philip guy, he got a very frustrating man as a master.”

There was no young knight who wouldn’t want to cross swords with a Sword Master.

But Luke, even when asked, refused it.

Such an act didn’t make Ferrero feel that bad though.