Helmut remained silent, finding Mihail's keen observation unnecessary. Mihail continued smoothly, "My sister also attends an academy. If you're from Baden Academy, perhaps you've met her."
This offhand comment made Helmut uneasy, hoping his sister wasn't from Greta Academy. Despite his drastically changed appearance, he hoped he wouldn't be recognized.
Sitting down, Mihail asked, "How old are you, Hyde?"
"Sixteen," Helmut replied, adding a year to match the age on his tournament application form.
"I'm fourteen. Unable to wield a sword due to my frailty, I find myself drawn to the tournament. It's exhilarating to witness the dynamic energy of swordsmen battling fiercely."
Mihail spoke wistfully, leaving Helmut, who had always been robust, unable to relate to the feeling of physical weakness.
"Coming to Basor wasn't just for the tournament, though. Despite my frail body, I have a keen mind. It's part of a noble's duty to scout for capable individuals."
Helmut recognized that, at fourteen, Mihail's discernment must be valued by his family.
'Maybe he's an heir to some significant noble house.'
Mihail mentioned he was a noble but didn't specify his family. Smiling, he added, "I should rest now. You can use the right side of the room. Feel free to place your belongings anywhere; I won't touch them. Anything else we need to decide?"
The room's layout made this arrangement practical, with two bathrooms attached. Helmut could securely store important items in his cloak, eliminating concerns of tampering.
"I'll use the front yard for my practice. You can use it when I'm not there."
"A training area is necessary, then. Agreed."
After spending the day under the scorching sun, Helmut was also eager to rest, soaked in sweat. Although he wished for a hygiene magic artifact, none were commercially available.
'I should have requested that feature from the Dean.'
He felt a lingering sense of regret.
When it seemed the conversation had concluded, Mihail suddenly said, "Truthfully, I'm selective about people. I don't make such offers to just anyone."
Helmut almost agreed, feeling an inexplicable familiarity with Mihail.
'Is it because I now have blonde hair and blue eyes?'
Their similar appearances, or perhaps being surrounded by similarly delicate-looking individuals at the academy, might explain the natural sense of kinship Helmut felt, despite finding it hard to articulate. Consequently, he did not express agreement.
'Mihail is an odd fellow.'
That was Helmut's assessment of Mihail.
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By the next day, Helmut had added to his assessment of Mihail: the boy was generous.
Dining in this expensive inn, where a night's stay cost 2,000 marks, wasn't cheap. Mihail, responsible for the meal expenses, suggested they dine together the following noon.
Mihail had stayed mostly in his room, claiming frail health, and had slept soundlessly until late in the morning.
"Would you like to join me for a meal?"
Helmut, who had been practicing his swordsmanship in anticipation of the tournament, agreed.
"Order anything you like."
Unfamiliar with Basor's cuisine, Helmut let Mihail decide, leading to a lavish spread sufficient for five.
As the staff busily brought in dishes, Mihail subtly pushed food towards Helmut.
"I'm quite picky."
Mihail's delicate nibbling would have irked Asuka, who might've found such behavior unbefitting of a man.
In contrast, Helmut ate heartily, consuming nearly four and a half portions himself.
'Tasty, but perhaps too much.'
Exercise would soon take care of that. As Helmut prepared to leave, Mihail inquired, "Will you continue training up to the tournament? You seem very dedicated."
Aware Mihail had been watching, Helmut found no need to hide his practice. Given the upcoming tournament and his reliance on generic sword skills, there wasn't much to conceal.
"Probably."
His only other pending task was awaiting a message from Talon regarding collected documents.
"Would you like to explore the city with me? It's a rare opportunity to see Basor."
"Are you not cautious at all?"
Helmut found Mihail's casual attitude perplexing, especially after only a day of acquaintance.
"You said yesterday."
"Why would you make such an offer to someone you've just met?"
Helmut pondered if his demeanor seemed too approachable. Was he deemed safe enough not to harbor suspicions, even by a stranger?
"It's simple, really. You're here for the tournament and show no interest in me. Hence, you're unlikely to harm me. Plus, being an academy student, you wouldn't want to cause trouble."
"Think what you will. But here's my advice."
Rising to leave, Helmut added coldly, "Your judgment may not always be right. It's better to minimize risks."
"I'll remember your advice," Mihail replied calmly, seemingly unfazed by the noble's bluntness. Despite his apparent high birth, Mihail's eagerness for familiarity remained a mystery. Helmut left him to return to his practice.
Immersing himself in swordplay until evening, Helmut noticed the room was dark upon his return, indicating Mihail had yet to return from his outing.
A buzzing from his cloak signaled a message. Talon's voice emerged from the crystal ball.
"The documents have been delivered."
"Alright."
"Planning to participate in the tournament?"
After a brief hesitation, Helmut confirmed.
"Yes."
"Intriguing. A young Basor knight, the youngest to join the Palma Knights and capable of vis manifestation, is also competing. Though not as skilled as you, he's a prodigy at eighteen."
"Interesting."
Helmut had mastered vis manifestation at thirteen. Even if this competitor had achieved it before turning eighteen, he wouldn't match Helmut's proficiency. Yet, the challenge seemed worthwhile.
Familiar with the Palma Knights, Helmut knew them as Basor's elite. Comprising less than thirty members, all could manifest vis, holding significant influence even over the kingdom's ruler.
"Furthermore, he claims to be a descendant of the missing swordsman Darien Sifer."
Helmut was taken aback.
"Darien's descendant?"
He recalled Darien mentioning a son, born frail by his late wife. Darien considered the child dead, having shown no talent for the sword.
'Defective. That half-wit couldn't have survived without my shadow.'
Yet, if the son lived, married, and had children, it was plausible for Darien to have a great-grandson.
"Basor's royalty and high-ranking officials are mostly unaware of this. Our investigation revealed he declared himself Darien's great-grandson about eight months ago, after passing the Palma Knights' entrance exam."
'So, the son did survive.'
If he documented the swordsmanship learned from Darien and passed it on, it made sense.
'Fascinating.'
Helmut felt a surge of competitive spirit. Though distantly related, blood remained blood. What would a duel reveal?
Helmut posed a seemingly innocuous question.
"How did Darien's disappearance come about?"
"Venturing into the desert to eliminate a scorpion monster's offspring, he vanished. Officially, that's the narrative."
'Offspring?'
In the Demonic Beast Forest, reproduction was slow, with higher beings like Elaga shunning it as a survival instinct.
Outside the forest, if Scorpion had numerous followers and thrived in the desert's unique environment, its offspring, albeit weaker, could serve as a plausible cause for Darien's disappearance.
"And the unofficial version?"
"There's speculation the Lumen Temple intervened, with a high priest's absence noted around that time. Darien, almost deified in Basor for defeating desert monsters, clashed with the temple's influence."
"I see."
"And if you're curious, we could delve deeper. It would cost one of the two favors you have left."
"That's unnecessary."
Helmut wasn't easily swayed by Talon's attempt to bargain for information.
For now, he knew the traitors' names and the circumstances surrounding Darien's betrayal. Lured into the desert, Darien fell into a trap.
"I'll consider what to inquire about next."
"Whenever you're ready."
With that, Talon concluded the conversation. Helmut stored the silent crystal ball back into his cloak.
Alone in the training yard, enveloped in silence, Helmut pondered the information Talon provided, piecing together the puzzle of Darien's legacy and the mysteries of Basor.