Chapter 9: Besides Being Cute and Dumb, What Else Do You Even Have?

A bard was singing interesting stories, attracting a large crowd of onlookers.

“The Sword Saint of the Donghui Kingdom ventured into the catacombs of the Undead King.”
“Besieged by a swarm of death knights, he stood alone, yet utterly without fear—”

Fiora stopped in her tracks.
Leon also paused beside her.
The two of them stood in a hidden corner of the crowd.

The bard continued his tale, even using magic to construct a small theater.

In the center was a black-haired youth, surrounded by a horde of armored skeletal knights.

“The Sword Saint’s beloved sword responded to his call!”
“Five blades unsheathed at once, flying forth like a descending god, unstoppable as they slaughtered the monsters—a 1 vs. 100 battle!!”
“In the end, only the most powerful Undead King remained!!”

The scene from the bard’s words became a reality within his illusion, drawing waves of cheers from the crowd.

“Leon, is that story about you?” Fiora was completely engrossed.

Leon seemed extremely nonchalant. “It is, but half of what he’s saying is made up.”
“There weren’t that many death knights, only about ten or so… and I didn’t win that easily either.”
“I was almost beaten half to death back then.”

The little figure in the illusion drew a golden sword before the Skeleton King, dispelling the darkness of the catacombs.

“Facing the Undead King, Leon drew the holy sword bestowed upon him by the Grand Prince of the Donghui Kingdom and unleashed his strongest sword technique!”
“Come now, everyone, let us call out the name of the holy sword together!”

The bard hyped up the atmosphere, leading the crowd in a shout.

“EX-CALIBUR!!“

A golden torrent engulfed the Undead King, dissolving him into golden pearls that scattered in the radiant light.

The Sword Saint coolly sheathed his weapon, slung it over his back, and continued on his journey.

Fiora looked completely bewildered.
“Don’t look at me, I really can’t do that.”
“I killed the Undead King with normal attacks.”
“They probably thought that was too boring, so they embellished it,” Leon explained.

“I want to keep watching,” Fiora said.

“Alright. To be honest, watching them make up stories about me is so strange…”

The crowd rotated in and out as the bard recounted different legends of Leon.

Fiora listened intently, while Leon’s scalp began to tingle. His expression grew increasingly stiff.

During a lull, Fiora glanced at Leon, a small doubt suddenly blooming in her heart.

Although it’s mostly exaggerated, the fact remains that this man really did those things.
What was it that allowed him to survive alone through so many desperate situations?

Eventually, the bard packed up. The crowd dispersed, and the bard noticed Leon.

Seeing his idol, his face lit up with joy.

“Lord Sword Saint!!” the bard exclaimed, grabbing Leon’s hand, so excited he was on the verge of tears.

Leon looked awkward but couldn’t bring himself to get angry, so he treated the bard politely.
“Mhm, hello.”
“Thank you for your support.”
“I’m very happy.”

“Thank you! I will definitely spread your stories far and wide!”
“By the way, when are you going to challenge the Ice Dragon King?”

“Eh?” “Eh?”

The simultaneous sounds came from both Leon and Fiora.

“You must defeat the evil Ice Dragon King and make the foolish and arrogant Dragon Clan understand that in your eyes, they are nothing more than an insignificant bunch.”

Fiora puffed up her cheeks and slapped the bard’s hand away.
“Shut up! The Ice Dragon King is the best in the world! The Ice Dragon King is the strongest in the current version!”

“What are you talking about?” The bard treated Fiora like a misbehaving child and laughed.
“Putting aside a comparison with Lord Sword Saint, isn’t the Ice Dragon King the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Dragon Clan?”

Ugh!
An arrow pierced Fiora’s heart.

“And isn’t the current Ice Dragon King not very bright? She can’t even manage her own clan, was abandoned by the Ice Dragon Clan, and became a general without an army, completely lacking in dignity.”

Ugh!
Another arrow pierced Fiora’s heart.

“I hear she’s been single for a hundred years without even an heir.”
“She’s probably just a single loser that nobody likes.”

Ugh!!!
Fiora was now pierced like a hedgehog, kneeling on the ground, completely dejected.

Fiora and Leon sat in a carriage.

They had hired it as their mode of transport so they could get back to Leon’s home before dinner.

“What, still angry?” Leon asked.

“Hmph.”

Fiora sat like a sulking punching bag, her face full of grievance as she hugged her knees.

“Bards just do it for popularity. They embellish things.”
“Don’t take their words to heart—none of it is the truth.”

“Is that how the whole world sees me?”

“Not everyone. I don’t see you that way.”

“Then can you name one of my good points?”

“…Uh.”

“You hesitated! You hesitated, didn’t you! You think I’m an idiot too, don’t you?!”

Leon’s first instinct was actually to say Fiora was super cute, but it felt inappropriate—like he was reducing her to a pretty face.

But thinking carefully… besides being cute and dumb, did she really have any other characteristics?

“Right, I have a question for you.”

“How did you get so strong all by yourself?”

“…It’s nothing, really.”
“Probably for… a woman…”

Leon still didn’t have the courage to confess that it was for Fiora.

“You… you actually… you became this strong just to satisfy your lower half? As expected of the scumbag Sword Saint.”
“Seriously, what was I even expecting from you?”

“Huh?”

Leon looked completely innocent, as if he had been misunderstood about something again.