Thud!
The head of the troll fell from the trident with a loud thud due to how heavy it was.
Kaen was in an awkward situation with no idea what was going on.
Who were these people around him?
He could atleast gather the information from their attire and the powerful presence some of them had.
All the men present there were in armors with a crest that Kaen couldn't recognize.
By seeing the beasts' corpses lying around, Kaen could speculate that this was a knight order that have come to kill the increasing number of magic beasts in the forest.
The young man he had saved wore a different kind of armor that only the nobility wore, however, to know their identity, the best method was to look for the strongest person among them.
After sweeping his gaze through all of them, Kaen's gaze stopped on a man with a height of 1.83m (6') and broad shoulders adorned in a distinct shining armor with a long cape fluttering behind.This man had grey hair with a matching goatee beard, exuding a powerful aura.
This man walked towards him with grace and grandeur with his hands clasped behind.
He stopped in front of Kaen before speaking: "Thank you Sir Knight for saving my son there! I don't know how that troll managed to escape my sight and reach my son. If you weren't there I can't even imagine what would've happened,"
Kaen atleast knew that this man was either a baron, viscount or a count!
However, someone capable of fighting a troll and a knight order capable of killing this many beasts could only be a count.
And there was only one count who had Antinia under his rule, A 6-star Aura Knight — Count Nadino!
Deducing his identity, Kaen replied while pressing his right fist against his chest: "No need to fret over it, Sir Count. I Just happened to be passing by!"
The Count smiled in appreciation as he asked: "Would you kindly introduce yourself, sir Knight! I can see that you look very young and I haven't seen you before! I'm sure I would've heard of someone as skilled as yourself!"
"Sir Count, My name is Kaen Blaze and I have been training in seclusion, that is the reason you haven't heard of me!" Kaen humbly replied.
"Oh, then allow me to repay you for your help today, Sir Kaen. Is there anything you would like as a reward? I will do my best to repay you since you have saved my only son's life!" The count offered with a grateful smile.
{
*Ding*
Side Quest - Join the Nexus Academy of the Three Nations
[Join the Nexus Academy, funded by the three neighboring Kingdoms. The elites from the three kingdoms join this prestigious academy, ensuring their success. Created by the three weakest kingdoms among the seven empires. To survive against the other four prominent empires, the three kingdoms decided to unite by sending their elites to this single academy to become warriors of the nation.]
Time limit - 3 years
}
Kaen acted to ponder over the reward while reading the quest. After he had finished reading the quest details, he pondered for real:
Hmm... Join the Nexus Academy?
Wait, this could help in finding talented individuals who can help in the future to fight against the demons!
I should go to the academy and scout some useful individuals for my secret organization too!
While Kaen was thinking, Demios, by speaking directly in Kaen's head, he reminded: "Don't forget to ask for the herbs that grow near the volcanoes. It will help to relieve your mother till you can go and defeat a red dragon!"
Kaen nodded in appreciation of his reminder before he began to reply to the count.
"Sir Count, I'd like to ask for three small rewards instead of something grand, would that be alright?"
"Of course, go ahead, No need to hesitate!"
Kaen nodded before stating his requests: "Sir count, as my first reward, I would like to have herbs that grow near a Volcano. There is no Volcano nearby otherwise, I'd go collect them myself. I'm in urgent need for these herbs, so if you could arrange them, it'd help me a lot!"
The count nodded: "Consider it done, I know a merchant who deals with herbs. He must have these type of herbs, I'll arrange them within this week. State your next request!"
"Sir count, I'd like you to give me a letter of recommendation to attend the Nexus Academy!"
"That isn't a problem. Even my son goes to the Nexus academy. You can have the letter when you visit to collect the herbs!" The count said with a smile before asking: "What is your last request?"
"Sir Count, As my last reward, Please grant me a house near your mansion and an amount of money that you see fit!"
Hearing Kaen's request, The count thought in delight:
This is good! If he comes to live near my mansion, I can have good relations with him and can ask for his help in the future!
Anyone can see that this man is young and is just starting on his journey!
He will reach the top in no time and when he does, I should be able to benefit from it!
To kill a troll with one strike, that will be difficult even for me!
Who knows if he is already more powerful than me?
After deducing that this deal was more in his favor, the count agreed: "Alright, Come to my mansion in two days, I'll have everything ready!"
Kaen nodded in understanding before asking: "Then I'd like to take my leave, sir count! I'll see you after two days!"
The count nodded in acknowledgement: "Alright!"
Getting the count's permission, Kaen walked away before fading in the distance.
At this moment, The count's knight order's captain came up to him and asked: "My lord, why did you allow him to speak to you in such an disrespectful manner? Someone of common status should kneel before you when he talks!"
The count shook his head as he answered: "You are wrong, Tauras! That person wasn't of common status. Since he saved my son's life, I became indebted to him and how can I ask someone like that to kneel before me?"
-----------------------------------
(A/N - thanks for reading. ^..^)