Chapter 136 : Chapter 136

Chapter 136. Get Out, You Bastards (2)

At first, I thought I had misheard.

The mage from the 6th floor of the Tower of Truth, Hausen, couldn't help but doubt his own ears.

But seeing his colleagues on either side with their mouths agape in astonishment, he finally realized.

That he had not misheard.

“What… did you just say?”

To Hausen, who was stuttering in anger, Patrick said with an indifferent expression while picking his ear.

“I thought you just lost your mind, but are you deaf too?”

“How dare you!”

Hausen jumped up from his seat in anger.

The mages of the Tower of Truth were neither nobles nor royalty.

But considering the influence the Tower of Truth had on the world, its mages were treated far better than most nobles.

Especially Hausen, who was a mage who had come down from the 6th floor.

It was no exaggeration to say that this was a status comparable to a marquis of a kingdom.

For a mere young punk with no title, even if he was the winner of the Arcana, to insult him like this….

Hausen, trembling with anger, spoke.

“Retract your words and apologize now. Otherwise, I will hold not only your family, but the entire Atronia Kingdom responsible.”

“Wow! What a grandiose load of bullshit.”

“You bastard, until the very end.”

“Is it not rude to ask someone to teach you their secret techniques, but what I said is rude?”

“……”

“Shall we see? Who started this with ridiculous bullshit first?”

As Patrick glared coldly and said a word, Hausen clamped his mouth shut.

He was suddenly at a loss for words.

To the mages of the Tower of Truth, knowledge was like treasure.

It was so severe that there was a saying that you could lend your wife and child, but not your research journal.

So they knew very well how rude it was to unilaterally demand someone else's secret techniques.

Hausen avoided Patrick's gaze with an awkward expression and said.

“I didn’t know it was a secret technique.”

“Oh, really? It looked that trivial to you?”

“Keuheum….”

“But you wanted to learn it?”

“That is, because….”

“Or what? Did you think that just because I'm the son of a powerless baronial family in a small country, if you guys asked for it, I would say, ‘Oh my, of course. I must give it to you. It is the glory of three lifetimes to be of help to the precious mages of the Tower of Truth.’?”

“Uh……eum….”

“Uh……eum…. what? What do you want me to do? Huh?”

“……”

I can’t even refute a single word.

What kind of guy is this?

Hausen was now breaking out in a cold sweat.

To be honest, he did have such a thought in a corner of his mind.

Even if he was the winner of the Arcana, wasn't his opponent just the son of a baronial family from the Atronia Kingdom?

He thought that considering the authority of the Tower of Truth, he wouldn't dare refuse.

But his opponent had head-butted him head-on, and blatantly at that.

‘I didn’t know he was this kind of guy.’

If this continued, not only his honor but also the honor of the Tower of Truth could be tarnished.

Hausen said cautiously.

“It's not that we're just asking for it. If you cooperate with us, we will pay a corresponding price.”

“A corresponding price? What is that? Money?”

“……”

“Look at this old man. I have a lot of money too. I'm also ri… keukeuk… rich… keuk…. I am.”

Seeing Patrick's suspicious behavior, his companions whispered.

“What's wrong with him?”

“It seems he is happy about the fact that he can call himself rich.”

“Aah…. I see.”

“It’s possible.”

“It’s entirely possible. For that bastard, that is.”

It made sense.

Though they didn't realize how strange they themselves had become for understanding Patrick Schneider.

Hausen frowned and said.

“If not money, is there something else you want? We could entrust your family with the distribution rights of magical tools within the kingdom.”

Household magical tools had already become an indispensable necessity.

Entrusting their distribution was like saying they would make a bed out of money, not just a cushion.

However….

“Ahem, that’s basically money in the end. I told you it can’t be solved with money.”

“Then what on earth do you want?”

“If there is something you want, are you willing to provide it?”

“If it's something we can do, we will do anything.”

The words Patrick wanted to hear came out of Hausen’s mouth.

Patrick smiled inwardly and said.

“Then, can you give me a Soul Weapon?”

“What?”

“No way!”

“Are you crazy?”

At Patrick's words, all the mages from the Tower of Truth jumped up and shouted.

Soul Weapons were their exclusive property, possessed only by the Tower of Truth.

It was the root of the power that allowed mages, who were once weak and pushed around, to protect themselves and become one of the three major powers, comparable to the Empire or the Holy Theocracy.

The Emperor of the Empire and the Pope of the Holy Theocracy had requested Soul Weapons dozens of times, but the Tower of Truth had never complied.

And this young punk wanted one?

“That is impossible. Soul Weapons are weapons that must be possessed only by the Tower of Truth.”

“So are my secret techniques.”

“That is….”

“Can’t we compromise? Then go. If we can’t find a middle ground, is there any reason to waste more time?”

At Patrick's words, Hausen spoke as if frustrated.

Patrick was right.

If they couldn't communicate like this, it might be better to give up cleanly and withdraw.

However….

‘No. I can’t give up.’

Mages were a species that would risk their lives for curiosity.

The Sword Control Art that Patrick showed them, or his will and intent techniques, were incredibly tempting research subjects for them.

Giving up on that and just going back?

It would be easier for a cat to give up fish and for Patrick to give up money.

“Think carefully. Even if we give you a Soul Weapon, you wouldn't be able to handle it, would you?”

“I can’t handle it?”

“That’s right. To handle a Soul Weapon, you need years of training. That process is also a secret technique possessed by the Tower of Truth.”

“Aah…. is that so?”

“It is. So don’t be greedy for nothing and tell us something possible. If you want….”

“Hey. You over there. Yes. The one who likes logic.”

The person Patrick pointed to was Riman Ciera, who had fought Patrick at the Arcana before.

Riman pushed up his glasses and said.

“My name is Riman Ciera. Patrick Schneider.”

“Whatever. Just let me borrow it.”

At Patrick's words, Hausen frowned and said.

“What are you trying to do?”

“I’m trying to show you something interesting. Hey. Hurry up and give it to me. Give me the one that shoots fire.”

At Patrick's words, Riman glanced at Hausen.

Hausen nodded at Riman, giving his permission, and he took off his bracelet and gave it to Patrick.

“The activation word is Ignil. Not that you can use it anyway.”

“Whatever. Just watch.”

And Patrick put the bracelet on his wrist, gently infused it with his ki, and nodded his head.

‘Hmm…. As expected, I think it will work.’

Patrick grinned and said.

“Ignil.”

At that moment, Hausen snorted.

If Soul Weapons were something that could be handled so easily, they would have been leaked to the Empire or the Holy Theocracy long ago.

The method of use, just like the method of production, was a top secret….

Hwarureureureuk!

“Whoa. Off! Off! Wow, this thing has an attitude.”

An enormous flame erupted from Patrick's hand.

The flame shot up high and burned the ceiling of the room, and Patrick hurriedly withdrew his ki.

But was it because the flame was too big?

Hausen's beard, which was nearby, was burnt to a crisp, and his appearance was a mess.

To Hausen, who was standing there with his mouth agape, Patrick said.

“Uh…. sorry about that. It wasn’t on purpose.”

“……”

“Are you listening?”

“……”

“Hey. Grandpa?”

“How?”

“Huh? What about it?”

“How did you do iiiit!?”

Hausen's scream, filled with astonishment, echoed loudly.

* * *

The mages of the Tower of Truth left.

Hausen and the other mages clung to Patrick as if they would tear him apart, but Patrick, with a leisurely attitude….

[Ah, then give me a Soul Weapon.]

He held his ground by saying that, so there was nothing they could do.

In fact, in their hearts, they wanted to study Patrick's secret techniques even if it meant giving up a Soul Weapon.

But that was impossible.

Although they were fairly high-ranking executives in the Tower of Truth, they did not have the authority to hand over a Soul Weapon.

That was a matter to be decided by the Seven Sages who resided at the top of the tower in a general assembly.

So for now, they had no choice but to withdraw, promising a next time.

[We will withdraw for now. But remember. We will definitely be back.]

[Are you some kind of sealed demon king?]

[Kkeueung….]

They gritted their teeth but left for now.

But they showed no signs of giving up.

What Patrick had shown them was that desperate.

Waving his hand at the mages who were leaving with eyes full of lingering attachment, Patrick thought.

‘I’ve thrown the bait, so something should bite.’

From Patrick's perspective, there were many benefits to be gained from the mages.

So he didn't cut them off coldly but showed them something they would find fascinating and doable.

Now all he had to do was wait and see what big fish would come for this bait.

The matter concerning the Tower of Truth was thus concluded for the time being.

But there was one more problem to solve.

“Why do the elves want to meet me?”

“How should I know? Maybe they’re trying to confirm whether you’re a demon or not?”

At Alex’s words, Kalin, who was next to him, shook his head and said.

“Come on, senior. There’s no way.”

“Isn’t it possible?”

“Of course not. There’s nothing to confirm. That guy’s identity is definitely a high-ranking demon who has infiltrated the human world…. Keok!”

“You’re messing around. Messing around.”

Kalin, who was hit and sent flying, shouted at Patrick.

“I’m your senior! You bastard.”

“A senior is one who is good at fighting.”

“……”

I hate this kid.

Kalin sat down, and Alex and Gerard patted his shoulder.

Anyway, it was extremely rare for elves to request such an active meeting.

They did interact with humans, but only as much as necessary.

It was a characteristic of the elven race not to get overly involved.

Yet, the elven race had requested an audience with Patrick several times already.

“Well, I’ll find out once I meet them.”

If you don't know, just face it head-on.

That was the Radiant Dragon Great Master's way of thinking.

* * *

Elven warriors, their faces completely covered with black masks, stood before Patrick.

Except for their eyes visible through the masks and their pointedly protruding ears, nothing could be seen.

However….

“My name is Elione.”

‘Wow, that voice is amazing….’

Is this what a true jade voice sounds like?

Even the beautiful voice of the top-class gisaeng in a brothel in Xiangzhou in his previous life, who received ten gold nyang for a single song, was not this good.

It was a seductive and beautiful voice, so much so that an ordinary person would feel dazed just by hearing it.

Patrick calmly collected his ki and said.

“I am Patrick Schneider of the Atronia Kingdom. What is the reason you wished to see me?”

To the question that directly asked for the reason, the other party answered with a heavenly jade voice.

“To invite you, Young Master Patrick Schneider, to our forest.”

“The elves’ forest? Do you mean Evergreen?”

“That is correct.”

Patrick's companions behind him murmured loudly.

And Patrick said with a look of incomprehension.

“Isn’t that a domain that humans are strictly forbidden to approach?”

Evergreen.

This forest, located north of the Kaisar Kingdom, was the elves’ base and a forbidden area where humans were not allowed to enter.

It was a forest where the World Tree existed, and countless elves had shed blood to protect it.

It was that sacred and precious a home.

According to the treaty with humans, if a human entered the forest of Evergreen, the elven race had the absolute right of life and death.

It meant that even if it were the Emperor of the Empire or the Pope of the Holy Theocracy, if they entered Evergreen, they would have no grounds for complaint even if they were killed by the elves.

And they wanted him to come to such a forest?

“I don’t want to die yet.”

At Patrick's words, Elione said.

“We are formally inviting you. I, Elione, a member of the Elven Knights, will guarantee your safety.”

“Huh? Wait, Elven Knight? You are an Elven Knight?”

“Yes. That is correct.”

“Really?”

Elven Knight.

That was a title for the warriors who had reached the highest rank in the elven race.

Elves were not a belligerent race, but it was still a title that symbolized the strongest in their race's military power.

In human terms, it was at least a 7-star knight or higher.

Or a title comparable to the 12 Paladins of the Holy Theocracy.

And she was an Elven Knight?

“Honestly, it’s hard to believe.”

“Why is that?”

“You are too weak to be called an Elven Knight.”

At Patrick's blunt remark, his companions watching from behind went into an uproar.

“Hey, hey! Hey!”

“Watch your words! You bastard, watch your words!”

“I’m sorry. This bastard has no filter.”

His companions were terrified and tried to stop him from behind, but Patrick said nonchalantly.

“Am I wrong? She got her ass kicked by a kid who hasn’t even become a Paladin yet, so isn’t that weak?”

“……”

“……”

Alex and his companions just looked at the corner of the room's ceiling with a pitiful expression.

There was definitely no word for 'consideration' in this bastard's dictionary.

But on the other hand, they also had this thought.

‘Actually, he does have a point.’

‘No matter what, as an Elven Knight, shouldn't she have beaten Antorius?’

‘At the very least, they should have fought on equal terms.’

‘It is strange.’

The combat power of the Elven Knights recorded in human literature was terrifying.

There were records of them fighting against and winning against multiple 7-star knights in the forest.

Or the representative of the Elven Knights at the time fighting a head-on duel with an 8-star knight, who was the strongest of humanity, and ending in a draw.

There was also a record of several Elven Knights defeating an undead dragon summoned by demons.

But such an Elven Knight was unilaterally pushed back and defeated by Antorius, who had not even entered the 12 Paladins yet?

Honestly, it was strange.

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