Chapter 190 : Even minor characters can be main characters.
Seeing that he had distanced himself from the desolate ruins, Sekke opened his grimoire. Beside him was the flying vehicle constructed by his proudest Bronze Creation Magic, "Bronze Meteor Magic Wheel."
Once he rode it, he could return to the Emerald Mantis base and start a new day.
But suddenly, a voice drifted into his ears—Sekke looked back. It was a fox mask with red patterns, the guy who had knocked him out with a brick!
"Hu ha!"
Sekke scratched his head and backed away, looking somewhat guilty. His speech was hesitant. "Uh... I wasn't trying to escape... I was just, yes, I just wanted to come out and use the restroom."
"Hu ha... The scenery here is really nice."
People always say nonsense when they are at a loss.
However, the Masked Man seemed to see through Sekke's thoughts. He took two steps closer, staring intently into Sekke's eyes. "Are you planning to return to the Emerald Mantis base?"
Being stared at, Sekke's eyelids wouldn't stop twitching. He forced himself to suppress his nervousness and put on a smile: "Hahaha... How could I? I just came out to use the restroom. I absolutely... absolutely never thought about escaping."
"Really?"
The Masked Man stroked his chin, seeming to ponder the truthfulness of the statement.
"Of... course."
"I see. I thought you were leaving, missing out on a huge opportunity for promotion."
Sekke paused slightly, as if he hadn't understood the Masked Man's words. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "Opportunity for promotion? What are you referring to?"
"So you still don't understand?"
"It seems you really were trying to run away just now." The Masked Man said this as he walked past Sekke. "I thought someone as smart as you would be able to guess why I brought you here, but it looks like my effort was wasted."
"In that case, forget it. Just sneak back to the base slowly."
"When dawn breaks tomorrow, it will be a new day."
The Masked Man walked further and further away.
"Excuse me... Excuse me, what is the opportunity you mentioned?"
Watching the Masked Man walk away, Sekke thought for a moment and then hurried to follow him. He really wanted to know what this so-called "opportunity" was—money? Or a chance to change his fate?
However, the Masked Man's next words stunned Sekke momentarily.
"You must have been the pride of your village too, right?"
"Coming from a remote village to the central Royal Capital to participate in the Magic Knights entrance exam... You originally planned to pick a weak opponent during the assessment to use as a stepping stone to join the Order of Knights, but you didn't expect to be knocked unconscious by that guy's sword."
"H-how do you know that?" Sekke was shocked. It had happened a year ago, a memory he himself was close to forgetting. Why did someone else know about it?
But the Masked Man seemed to be doing it on purpose; he didn't continue the discussion and changed the subject instead. "Sekke, why did you join the Order of Knights?"
"Why did I join the Order of Knights?" Sekke murmured, repeating the question. A hazy look appeared in his eyes, as if recalling something deep within his memory.
On that day in April when dandelions drifted, someone else had promised themselves they would become the pride of their village, protect others, and become a member of the Magic Knights.
"Of course, of course it's for money!"
Pride and all that... had been crushed the day he entered the Royal Capital.
This place certainly wasn't lacking people like him. The pride of the village? Protecting others? Becoming the Wizard King? Working hard to earn money and marrying a beautiful woman—that was the path he needed to take now.
"Is that so?" The Masked Man nodded. "I guess I was overthinking it."
"I thought today might be an opportunity for you, knowing that this is where two Captains train privately. Perhaps you could learn more and become stronger here."
"It seems you aren't the type of person who hopes to step forward when danger arises."
————————————————————
Under the night sky, the stars still shone brightly.
Having finished his training, Nozel prepared to set off back to the Silver Eagle base. It was already quite late, and there were still a pile of matters within the Order that needed handling.
But just as he used Mercury Magic to summon a Mercury Vulture and prepared to leave, a long, slender cyan scythe blocked him ahead.
Nozel looked coldly at Jack and sternly asked, "What are you doing?"
"Heh heh heh..." Jack laughed wildly. "Aren't you going to give me an explanation before you leave?"
"What?"
"The tavern incident... and who was that masked guy?"
Nozel frowned. "I don't know who that guy is, and I wasn't the one who knocked you out at the tavern."
"Get out of the way!"
The Vulture formed of mercury flapped its wings, preparing to take flight.
The cyan scythe in Jack's hand seemed to extend, shining with a cyan sharpness. He maintained his usual madness, and the bloodstains left on his body made him look even more frantic.
"If you have the guts, go ahead and try, Lord Royalty."
The silver Vulture and the cyan Mantis created a current of wind in this desolate area. Mercury Rain Dance and Cyan Frenzy Slash burst forth almost simultaneously!
Sekke, who had originally left, suddenly returned halfway through his journey for some unknown reason.
"Ah ya~ I'm different from what that guy said."
"I didn't come back to get stronger. It's because Captain Jack is still here, and I need to confirm whether the previously injured Captain is safe and sound. Yes, yes, I definitely don't want to become a guy like Asta!"
Sekke, riding the Bronze Meteor Magic Wheel, muttered to himself along the way. "What's going on? Is the wind moving?"
A strong wind rushed past, making his face sting.
As he got closer, he clearly saw the area a hundred meters away: silver droplets and cyan spectral light danced continuously under the night sky, and fierce attacks collided, creating intense sparks!
Sekke looked somewhat lonely in the wind.
"The Captains are fighting?"
"Seriously, was that guy telling the truth? Compared to learning something from them, isn't the chance of me dying by their hands much higher?"
"Ah ya~ Maybe I should run first?"
...The sky turned the color of a fish belly.
The Silver Eagle base.
The Silva siblings saw the Captain's Office door open, and papers scattered on the floor made them realize something was wrong. They had thought their brother, who hadn't returned all night, was dealing with Order affairs and had slept there again.
But now it seemed the situation was not what they thought.
This scene... Was their brother attacked?
Nebula's expression changed. She quickly said to Solid, "You look for clues here first, I'll go gather the Order members."
"Okay."
Just as the siblings were about to split up, a blond man walked over from the corridor, supporting Nozel, whose clothes were ripped and who looked incredibly filthy and disheveled.
At this moment, that Lord Royalty had long lost his previous composure and calmness.
"That lunatic."
"Next time I'm definitely going to kill him. He actually... actually sliced off my hair!"
"Hey, your name is Sekke, right? Go back and tell that guy to wait for me! This isn't over!"
...
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