He didn't like the fact that Green Dagger was still ahead of him, but on a personal note.
Axel himself didn't expect to make the top 10; he was slightly proud of it.
Gareth announced one last time, "1 month afterward, come back to the Margrave Colosseum, then you all will be taken to the academy together."
After that, everyone started to go their way and leave the arena. Crow and Viper appeared in front of him simultaneously. Crow sighed, "I hope you don't mind it against us."
Viper added, "Yeah, I hope you don't."
Axel chuckled, "It's fine, it was a competition after all. You also helped me kick out that trash Green Dagger in the circle fight. So, it's ok, I guess. Let's meet in the academy if we get the chance."
Viper leaned closer to Axel and whispered, "Let's come up with a secret code to recognize each other."
Axel shrugged his shoulders and agreed. Then they simply went on their way. Their real identities have already been listed for those who will be attending the academy. All the contestants had to hand over their masks while going out.
Axel went back to the inn where he was staying, where the two guards, together with Neil, were waiting for him anxiously. Axel knocked on the door of the room. He announced, "It's me."
Neil immediately opened the door, recognizing the voice. He opened the door and asked,
"Young lord, welcome back. and So.....??"
The two also rushed forward to greet him. It seems all three were chatting in the same room.
Axel signaled them to calm down. Their excitement was understandable; getting into the academy was no small matter, especially for those from a commoner's background.
He announced, "I got in."
Neil exclaimed in joy, "Holy shit."
Thorne added, "Oh my, I knew it."
Garrik sighed in relief, "Of course, the master has worked so much for the past year."
Neil interjected, "And that's what makes the master so exceptional. Countless people try all their lives, and even so many noble houses do as well. hahaha...."
"But what was your ranking, though?" asked Neil.
But one of the guards slapped him on the head. "That's not something you should know."
Axel ignored Neil's question and went to the shower. That information could not be casually revealed. Even though he trusted his servant and the guards, there could be other people who were listening in on their conversation.
There's also the fact that the Duskers were after his family. Suppose they found out that the most exceptional competitor was Axel Nomrad. They might try to kill Axel even more before he entered the academy or push their plans ahead.
He didn't want to jeopardize his family's situation. Axel also learned something from the competition, revealing that your true strength could be counter-productive at times. He needed to do his best when fighting against the Orc, but that eventually led every other contestant in his circle to join against him.
It seems the ranking wasn't based on partial achievements. It didn't matter how many people you could fight off at once. You either needed to kill the Orc or, in a circle fight, remain as the last one standing. It didn't matter how.
Axel kept thinking as he let his body relax in the bath. Truth be told, even if he became the first in the ranking in this competition. It wouldn't matter in the end. After becoming a Seeker, everyone's abilities would go through a reshuffling. Not to mention the real strongest ones were the heirs of the highest echelon of the great kingdoms.
All of their battle prowess was much superior to what Axel could show at the moment. To be honest, he didn't know what ripples he could cause as he continued to interfere in the story; things would eventually take a different turn.
The butler, Vargas, was present after the competition was over. He made sure that the young master had reached the inn safely, but did not go to greet him. He immediately went back to the family mansion to relay the news of Axel's incredible achievements in the competition. There were also doubts in his mind.
He knew that something had happened when the young master went to the Santak village at that time. According to the two guards, they did nothing, yet the time they had gone their way was precisely when the problem with the disease was solved. Then there were these subtle changes in the Young master. Both physically and mentally.
Now, in the competition, things were confirmed. Axel's physical strength was off the charts. Even someone who was specifically trained in physical prowess would not be able to match Axel in that field.
In the night, Axel and Neil were sleeping in the same room. While the two guards were on the other side. Axel was trying to go to sleep. He was quite exhausted mentally, to say the least.
Neil suddenly asked him, "Master, what exactly is your connection with that organization?"
"For that guy Justin to fear you like that, and my contract with you is going to be over while you remain in the academy?"
Axel was initially surprised by that questioning; his intelligent slave did not ask him about almost anything, no matter how suspicious it may be. He only silently obeyed. But he slowly answered, "What my connection is with that organization is something you'll know later on in the future. So, what if the contract is over? I'm sure you'll still be my assistant."
Neil's eyebrow twitched at that response, "You don't know that. Whether I will stay with you or not."
Axel chuckled, "I'm sure I do."
The duo bickered slightly for a while, then went to sleep. Neil had also gotten somewhat close to him. He understood what kind of person Axel is, even if it was shrouded in a halo of mystery. It's as if Axel was after something, chasing something that the slave could not understand.
The next day, the 4 started travelling back to Dusker Dukedom to the Nomrad family mansion. After two or more days of travelling, they reached the gates of the Nomrad mansion. But there was a problem, the carriage stopped right in front of the gate.
The two guards hurriedly called out to their young master within the carriage. Axel didn't understand what had happened or why the carriage had stopped in front of the gate for more than 1 minute.
"Young master, please come out yourself and see," asked Garrik in a pleading tone.
Axel's heart almost skipped a beat, seeing the serious expression of his guard. But the moment he came out, a completely different scene unfolded in front of him.
His father, alongside the butler, Clara, his personal maid. Even his two instructors, Lex and William. All the servants, in their black-and-white attire, were on the sides, making a road in the middle. All of them were wearing a smile, and Clara was even crying. They were welcoming him back for getting a spot successfully in the academy.
The scene left Axel utterly stunned and breathless for a moment. Seeing the shocked expression on Axel's face, his father let out a laugh. Axel did not move from his spot. He engraved that scene in his heart; his breathing quickened, and a strange feeling of satisfaction welled up.
Tears threatened to come out of his eyes as he gritted his teeth slightly. He had lived with his uncle his entire life on earth; these warm gestures were unfamiliar to him. His uncle and his family never treated him badly, yet there was a noticeable gap in their relationship. So, he was left to do his own thing. It didn't matter much if he did well in studies or did poorly.
So, this parental gesture from Daniel Nomrad could not help but touch his heart deeply. Just as tears were about to fall from his eyes. His father walked forward in calm but assertive steps. His father's wide back had already hidden his figure from the servants and his instructors. His father placed his big hand on top of his head and said softly,
"It's been hard on you, hasn't it, son? It's ok. You did well. You did enough."
The moment Axel heard these words, his eyes widened. Tears automatically fell from his eyes as if a dam had broken. He lowered his head and gritted his teeth; tears fell from his cheeks to the ground, but no word escaped from his lips. His father put a hand behind his shoulder and let Axel lean on him as his son cried.
The butler sighed. Only he knew what this meant for his patriarch. Daniel's father had disappeared abruptly, his wife had likely died, and his only son had gone into a coma with no apparent cure, as his mind had been broken. He was already prepared for the Nomrad family's heritage to disappear as he planned his revenge.
Then his son miraculously woke up. But his memories were gone. Yet, in just 1 year after waking up. His son, who had never shown any talent for becoming a powerful Seeker, had proven himself one of the strongest contestants in the competition. How could he not overflow with happiness?