Kapitel 46: Challenging The Saint

"So this is the Western City?" Nex muttered as he got closer and closer to the giant city that appeared on the horizon, "About the same size as the Southern one."

"Of course it is," Roland said as he excitedly watched the glamorous city that seemed like it was built from the stars in the sky, "The four great cities are supposed to be at the same size in order to symbol equality and prosperity, the only city that is allowed to be bigger in the kingdom is the capital that is in the center of the kingdom and is meant to symbolize the heart and strength of the kingdom."

"Oh?" Nex smiled and lifted his eyebrow at the kid's extensive response, "You are quite knowledgeable Roland. I am quite lucky to have you around here."

"That's just some basic knowledge," Roland blushed and lowered his head in order to hide his smile, "Grandma said I have to learn it if I want to be a capable person. She said that people who don't bother to learn about their surroundings and only focus on certain things are lazy bums who are a waste to society."

"...She said that?" Nex asked wryly while feeling needles prick his heart's soft spots.

"Yes," Roland nodded, "I think what she said is quite logical. After all, what good can you do if you don't even know about where you are?"

"..."

"Hey, Big Brother? Why are your eyes wet?"

"It just sand!"

♦♦♦

"Halt! Please show your identifications in order to get into the city!"

Being stopped by one of the guards at the entrance to the city, Nex quickly nodded and showed him the Adventurer Badge.

"This should suffice for both of us," Nex pointed at himself and Roland who stood next to him, "I heard that my rank allows me to approve entry for those who don't have identification, am I right?"

The guard examined the badge and upon realizing what its exact rank was, his eyes widened and he quickly checked Nex' features, and when he saw the silver hair and eyes, his gaze changed and he quickly bowed respectfully.

"Of course it will, sir! Please enjoy your stay in StarShine!"

"Thank you," Nex smiled and walked into the city, 'It seems that the rumors of me already reached here.

Upon seeing Nex walk away, the guard sighed in relief. Who would have thought that the "Freak From The South" would arrive into the city on his shift! But it seemed like he wasn't one of those eccentric and crazy Masters and Paragons he always heard about, he should count himself lucky on that aspect.

"Excuse me?" he suddenly heard said person voice from behind him.

"Yes, how can I help you, Sir?" the guard turned around and answered with a polite smile.

"Do you know where Sword Saint Louise's place is? I just need him to take this kid as a disciple."

"..."

He relaxed too soon.

♦♦♦

"It seems that this Louis dude doesn't have much of a good impression around here," Nex murmured wryly as Roland nodded with a similar face as his.

On their way to the school of the Sword Saint, whenever they asked for directions they would get various strange responses like gazes full of pity, people questioning whether it's their first time in the city, and once even a laugh and a pat on the shoulder while saying good luck.

This was very strange to them as they had thought that a school managed by one of the strongest people in the kingdom would have great popularity and would be held in great respect by the residents. It was especially so for Roland, who heard stories from his grandma about the fabled Sword Saint and his exceptional students.

"Well, I think I can start to understand them," Nex sighed as he stood in front of a run-down looking empty dojo that seemed like it wasn't taken care of in the last few years, with an old sign that was posted at the entrance.

[Will only accept odd jobs students with no tutoring included and after 2 years will be decided whether they would get promoted to a full-time servant. Tuition fees: 100 gold a day.]

"Is that person serious?" Nex wrinkled his forehead. To think someone with status like him would actually to act like that! He clearly has no intent to teach someone!

"Come, Roland," Nex pulled Roland, whose eyes had already become dim and full of disappointment, to follow after him as they entered the dojo, "We are going to have a small chat with the guy in charge."

"But, Big Brother, you saw the sign!" Roland quickly tried to stop Nex, "There is no point in speaking with him, as he will clearly say no to whoever asks him!"

"Don't worry," Nex smiled at the kid, "I promised that I will get you to be his student, so I will do it."

"Besides," Nex then turned his head and stared at a certain place in the dojo with a smirk, "He clearly hasn't met your Big Brother yet!"

Nex then entered the dojo while holding Roland's hand and began to walk inside it as if he knew exactly where to go, and in a short time they found themselves standing in front of a door.

"Roland," Nex suddenly said with a serious face, "I need you to stay close to me and under no circumstances let go of my hand is that clear?"

"Yes!" the kid nodded upon seeing the expression on his Big Brother's face, he didn't see him make this face even when he fought the hybrid.

"Good," Nex nodded and then took a deep breath, and at the next moment he opened the door and entered in with a shout.

"Old Man! I'm here to give you the best disciple you will ever get!"

Witnessing Nex' action, Roland's jaw fell from shock and he stared in astonishment, as he saw the person he admired most pointing his finger at an old man who sat lazily on a comfortable chair, while drinking an alcoholic beverage so strong that he could smell it from where he stood.

*Gulp*

"You're too loud, you damn bastard! how dare you bother me during my morning drink!" the Old Man first finished gulping from the bottle and only then did he throw it at Nex with so much force, that the air around the bottle vibrated.

'[Martial Secret: Soft Force]!'

"Don't care about that!" Nex smirked and stretched his hand toward the bottle, catching it softly as if his hand was cushioned, "All I need, is for you to take this kid as your direct disciple and provide him with whatever he needs!"

"Is that so?" the Old Man lifted an eyebrow upon seeing how Nex dealt with his attack and then moved his gaze to Roland who held Nex' hand tightly with trepidation filling his face and shook his head.

"I don't accept direct disciples anymore. Even though his strength growth rate is not bad, he cannot be more than a servant if he wants to be in this school."

"I think this is a good choice for him," the Old Man then laughed in disdain upon seeing Roland's anxiety and clear lack of self-confidence, "Acting like such a coward yet wanting me to teach him, being a servant is the best he could be!"

"I thought you would say that," Nex took a gulp from the bottle only to have his face twist and spit the alcohol on the ground, "Bland," he then turned around and prepared to walk out of the room with a blank-faced Roland, "Come, Roland, it seems like it wasn't a good idea to ask this drunk old man, who can't even throw a bottle of his disgusting alcohol properly. It's a miracle that he can even take care of himself!"

"Hold it, boy," the old man growled and a terrifying energy was shot out of him and spread into the air, "You have three seconds to turn around and apologize before I break both of your legs!"

"Oh?" Nex turned around with a jeer, ignoring Roland, who desperately tried to stop him with a pale face, "And why is that? Because I said the truth? Do you know what I think? I think that you are a washed-up old man and that is the reason this place is empty! You don't want others to notice your incompetence!"

*Bang!*

With a loud sound, the chair the old man sat on broke and the next moment Nex was lifted by his neck by the old man who, looking from up close, was surprisingly muscular and tall, standing a few inches taller than Nex!

"Big Brother!" Roland's face became white and he tried to attack the old man only to be thrown to the side with a wave of the latter's hand.

"You are the first person in a very long time to speak to me like that," the old man hissed as he tightened his grip around Nex's neck, "Do you have any last words before your foolish life ends?"

"Still trying to hide your shame?" although he was in a dire situation, Nex still spoke with a smirk, "I bet that if we were in the same Awakening stage, I could defeat you without much trouble!"

"Haha! Being a fool until the end, I see?" the old man laughed madly and then stared back at Nex, "Boy, when I was at your age, I fought beings so terrifying that smartmouths like you would pee in their pants upon seeing them! Even if you were a Paragon, you couldn't do as much as tickle me!"

"Wanna bet on it?" Nex taunted and stared directly into the old man's eyes, "I say that If I win against you in a fight where the strength of both of us is on the same level, you would have to take Roland as your disciple!"

"Is that so?" instead of killing Nex directly, something in the silver-haired man's eyes made him feel uncomfortable and his pride wouldn't let him take it lying down, "And if you lose?"

"Simple," Nex smiled as the moment he waited for arrived, "Since I am a Traveller and every time I die I will reborn weaker, so, if I lose, then I will kill myself again and again until I reach the lowest level of strength possible!"

"Big Brother, no!"

But Nex ignored Roland's cries and stared at the old man.

"So what do you say, do we have a bet or not?"

The two stared at each other for a few moments before the old man snorted and threw Nex toward the exit.

"Hmph! Come back here at noon and bring with you three people to serve as witnesses. Let's hope you can actually prove it won't be a waste of time!"

"Big Brother Nex!" Roland felt the pressure on him reduce and without wasting any more time he quickly ran to Nex who lifted himself back up.

"Playing rough, aren't we?" Nex petted Roland with one hand, while rubbing his sore throat with the other, "Don't worry, you will not forget this fight."