Capítulo 9: Journey to the Infernal Marsh
In Nile's gaze, Horn felt as if he was exposed, his every vulnerability laid bare.
Horn, with a sharpened awareness, narrowed his eyes and rasped, "Is it you, Leo?"
Nile's mouth twisted into a scornful laugh.
Then, the green glow in his eyes gradually faded, and his withered body collapsed onto the floor.
Horn, clutching his sword, breathed heavily.
Staring at the unconscious Nile, his face was a picture of extreme displeasure.
That wretch, he had developed a means to counter him, even daring to humiliate him?
His grip on the sword whitening, Horn's gaze turned icy.
"My lord!"
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
"What happened to Magus Nile?"
"..."
Hearing the commotion, the guards rushed in, looking at Horn with deep concern.
"Get out!" Horn barked, lifting his head.
At his command, the guards retreated without a word.
Horn looked down at the unconscious Nile again, muttering,
"My dear brother, perhaps it's time we met again."
He had to admit, Leo had surprised him.
Was this brother of his turning out to be an opponent worth taking seriously?
…
Inside Leo's manor, it was as if nothing unusual had happened.
Leo was immersed in his training, his progress accelerated by the power of the curse.
With a powerful strike, Leo's sword slammed into a wooden post.
"Thud!"
The post shattered instantly.
At the same time, Leo felt a blockage in his meridians burst open, unleashing a torrent of energy that gradually subsided after a few breaths.
When Leo reopened his eyes, he felt a newfound agility in his body.
He swung the heavy sword, which now felt as light as a feather in his hands.
He had ascended to the stage of a basic knight!
"Heh," Leo couldn't help but grin, flourishing his sword.
Feeling a gaze upon him, he turned to see Lilith watching him, her eyes flickering with barely discernible envy and confusion.
She had thought her own training talent was high, but Leo's progress had surpassed even her wildest expectations.
In just a few days, he had advanced to a basic knight.
"Jealous of my talent?" Leo raised an eyebrow, shrugging nonchalantly. "Can't help it, some people are just born under a luckier star, natural protagonists!"
"You're really annoying!" Lilith couldn't help but retort, looking at the self-praising Leo.
"Come here," Leo beckoned to Lilith.
Despite her cold expression, she approached him.
Without any hesitation, Leo wrapped his arm around Lilith's slender waist, leaned in, and savored the sweetness of her lips.
"Mmm~!" Lilith let out a muffled groan.
Instinctively, she tried to push Leo away.
Leo, however, was unabashed by her resistance, only lifting his head after having his fill, wiping his mouth.
Lilith's face flushed red, and for some reason, she felt her legs weaken, a sensation that left her deeply ashamed, covered only by her anger.
"You're just a bastard!" she glared at Leo fiercely.
"That might just be the best compliment in the world," Leo responded with a smile, bowing in a knightly manner.
Sheathing his sword, Leo turned to leave, only to be approached by the butler with a letter from the capital.
Taking the letter, Leo's gaze turned cold as he read the old king's words, commanding his son to present himself at the capital for a report at month's end.
If there was one person in the world he despised the most, it was undoubtedly his father.
The man who caused his mother's death without a shred of guilt, treating him far differently than his two brothers.
Not even the basic responsibilities of a father, like those shown to Rain, were afforded to him.
This letter, no doubt, had an ulterior motive.
"Reply to my beloved father, telling him that his dearest son will set out for the capital at month's end to convey his most sincere greetings,"
Leo said softly after a moment, his smile masking the underlying coldness.
"Yes, sir," the butler quickly nodded.
Lilith stood by, familiar with Leo's tone; she knew that this gentle tone was when he was the most furious.
"For some reason, it doesn't look like good news, my dear master," she remarked, not missing the chance to taunt him.
"You're right, so we might need to make a trip somewhere else first," Leo replied lightly, a faint smile on his face.
He turned, looking towards a direction where, beyond the Sunset Forest, lay the Infernal Marsh.
Venturing there to acquire those hell magics would give him the real power he needed to face everything that awaited him.
…
Having made his decision, Leo began preparations.
With only a handful of days before the end of the month, time was tight for a round trip.
Equipping himself with a newly forged sword tailored to his needs, and some secret cards up his sleeve, he was ready to set off.
"Your Highness, are you certain about traversing the Sunset Forest and venturing into the Infernal Marsh? It's a perilous place. Even the strongest knights have fallen there!"
The butler couldn't help but express his concern at the manor's gates.
He couldn't fathom why Leo would make such a decision.
To everyone else, it seemed akin to seeking death.
"Take care of my domain for me. When I return, I'll show you a world unlike any other," Leo said, patting the butler's shoulder with a reassuring smile.
He then turned to Lilith, who was also mounted on a horse, dressed in knight's attire, looking valiant and formidable.
"It seems even in death, you wish me to be by your side, Master," Lilith remarked, her smile not reaching the coldness in her voice.
"You're mistaken. I want to show you that my journey reaches for the stars and the sea! Only by keeping pace with me can you join in my conquests!"
With a confident smile, Leo gestured forward with his riding crop and spurred his horse onward.
Lilith watched his departing figure, momentarily lost in thought.
Could it be that this young man's aspirations were indeed genuine, seeking a companion to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him?
"Your Highness, I will heed your commands," the butler knelt on the ground.
Despite his lingering worries, having chosen to serve his master, he had to believe in Leo.
A different world?
The butler didn't quite grasp the concept.
…
Two hours later, Leo and Lilith reached the edge of the Sunset Forest.
The forest was not only home to terrifying spellbeasts but also to orcs bearing a deep-seated grudge against humans.
Consequently, they slowed their pace, remaining vigilant to the sounds around them.
Lilith, on her first venture into such wilderness, seemed nervous, frequently scanning their surroundings.
"You look a bit scared," Leo observed, a hint of teasing in his eyes.
Lilith turned, unable to hide her concern. "If orcs do appear, we might not be able to protect ourselves," she admitted.
"You can hide behind me. A woman's scream tends to make a man braver," Leo joked, his lips curling into a smirk.
Lilith sensed the sarcasm in his words and felt a flare of irritation, but she knew this wasn't the time for bickering.
She glared at Leo briefly before continuing to cautiously monitor their environment.
Sunset Forest, located on the fringes of Lionara, spanned an area comparable to a small duchy.
However, its depth was limited to a few dozen kilometers.
If they maintained a good pace, they could cross the forest in just two days.
Daylight passed quickly, and night fell.
To avoid detection, they decided to rest in the trees without lighting a fire.
For Lilith, the night in Sunset Forest was particularly challenging, and she hardly slept.
Leo, on another tree, however, slept soundly.
In his past life, he had traversed this forest multiple times and knew well the dangerous areas, so he was not overly concerned.
As the first rays of sunlight broke through the canopy, Leo and Lilith mounted their horses and continued their journey.
Suddenly, a rustling sound of leaves being disturbed echoed through the forest.
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