章節 29: Reverence is Too Much
On the day of Hund's match, even more people came to witness the tournament. Everyone was excited and curious about the only commoner in Kari's group of disciples. With his build alone, Hund garnered the attention of one and all.
And, the stage was ready for him.
"Do you need help putting on your armor?" Dustan offered his services, to which Hund nodded in reply.
Dustan immediately went to work, strapping the metal guard on Hund's chest and back.
"Why do you let your aide talk back to you?" Hund asked, breaking the silence between them.
Dustan smiled. "Because he is not simply my aide. I believe him to be my friend."
"Despite his poor behavior?"
"Yes." Dustan replied without hesitation. Hund watched the boy in interest as he finished strapping the last of Hund's armor.
The referee called on Hund's name. Although the reaction of the crowd seemed less enthusiastic as compared to when the referee revealed Alva's last name, the crowd's cheers deafened Hund. As he walked towards the stage, he could feel his heart thumping in his chest.
Hund had never been on the spotlight of anything. The only time that he had the attention of so many people was when he pleaded the magistrate at the town square to spare his brother. Not a good experience.
"Wait." Hund was surprised when Kari tugged him back, just before he reached the stage.
"Master?"
"This match is going to be a little different from Alva's. Particularly, due to your status. And if you think you are going to lose, forfeit. I forbid you to die for their entertainment." Kari commanded.
Hund felt a thump in his chest. "Yes, Master."
And so, Hund continued his way to the center of the stage where all eyes were on him. This time, however, he felt unbothered by the cheers and the watching eyes.
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Hund had to face a greater deal of challenge—more than Alva did. Being the only commoner in Kari's group of disciples really did make everyone pay attention to him, in more ways than one. Fighting double the number of what Alva fought would have discouraged anyone.
The only upside? Hund got to kick some noble ass. Yesterday proved that the challenger's had no real advantage should they pick the morning half or the night. The spectators and opportunists were beginning to understand that the tournament was indeed mechanized to avoid any unfairness.
Thus, the morning half were composed of both commoners and noble challengers. This posed as quite a statement to Hund. He was amazed even, to find such show of equality.
Kari was right all along. Maybe the only difference between him and those snob-nosed nobles was education, which most of them lacked. Now, Hund was beginning to see how lucky he was to have been swept off by Kari's pod.
As he thought these things in exhilaration, Hund continued to pound through the walls of flesh, perpetually driving his challengers to the edge. He had no clear awareness, simply going into a berserk and taking everyone down.
His morning ended just like that. A complete victory, just as Alva had. Quite befitting of Kari's disciples, if she were to put it into words.
"You did well, Hund."
"Master—!" Hund bowed in reverence, elated at his Master's praise.
"Sadly, I have yet to see you use what I've taught you. Well, it must be the lack of challenge on the part of your opponents." Kari smirked mischievously.
"I shall follow your wishes, Master."
Kari hummed. "Truly, you are my only disciple who I can trust. I expect great things from you."
"Yes, Master. I am honored." Hund lowered his head once more.
"You know he's a dick, right?" Alva piped up the moment Kari left to deal with the nobles once more.
Hund grunted, choosing to ignore Alva's antics. But the blonde seem to care no more than he did.
"The Count. Have you heard about what happened to him?" Alva queried.
"What should I know about the matters of people with high-standing?" Hund replied.
"True. Our matters are beyond the comprehension of your feeble brain." Alva replied. "However, that is not what I am pointing at."
You could have me fooled. Hund thought to himself.
"The Count is dead. Found in the outskirts of the city just this morning." Alva continued.
"And?" As Alva continued his blabbermouth tendencies, Hund focused on taking off his armor.
"Have you forgotten? Kari met up with the Count last night. Then he came back with bloodied fists. What do you think this entails?" Alva paused, as if to give Hund's brain some time to process.
"And?" Hund asked once more, withholding his gaze from the blonde.
"Oh for heaven's sake—! It means, Kari killed the Count." Alva hissed. "And yet there has been not a single search or query as to that bastard. Do you get it now? Kari Faust is no fucking hero. He's the villain."
At Alva's words, Hund remained impassive. Although, there was a steadily growing fire in his pit.
"The man either knows someone from high up—or he has legislative backing, like a lawyer or something. Not exactly something you would have expected from a mere fighter in this Tower." Alva continued to rant.
"He is, after all, number one. Is that not correct?" Hund coolly replied, exhausted by Alva's antics.
Alva fumed. "Who cares about his ranking? He's the devil. I am simply giving you fair warning."
"And why is that?" Hund asked, looking at Alva in the eye for the first time.
At his query, Alva became flustered. "I'm looking out for the likes of you, and this is all I get?!" The blond lad exclaimed, huffing.
"I never asked you to." Hund replied, getting a little bolder.
"Why you—"
"Enough." It was Dustan. At his behest, both Alva and Hund stopped talking.
"Alva, I am disappointed in you. Spreading gossip in broad daylight—are you a noblewoman seeking attention?" Dustan asked in a passive tone. However, his words were like poison to Alva. The blonde immediately stepped back.
Then, Dustan turned to Hund. "And you, why do you edge him on?" Dustan asked.
There was a certain authority in Dustan's voice and demeanor—an authority that had Hund quite apologetic, despite wanting to argue that he did nothing wrong and it was all Alva.
Hund bowed his head a little, unsure with what to do. He felt like a child being scolded.
"This conversation is to end here. I do not want to hear this ever being mentioned again, understood?"
Both Alva and Hund could only reply in agreement, submitting themselves to Dustan's command. As soon as they both gave their word, Dustan's mood lightened up. He smiled.
"Hund, Master is searching for you. We shall hold lunch together at the club room, he said." Dustan informed.
"The club room? But why?"
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