Before I could even do anything, I pulled away my sword from Aldric.
[NOTICE: Secondary Quest Completed! Rewards have been issued to your inventory.]
No one dares to talk, or even move. They were all shocked to see that one of the elite knights of my father was now have his defeat. He is undefeated no more.
Honestly, I don't know if I win the duel. There's in me saying I lost because I use my elemental magic as buff. And there is also in me saying that Aldric might claim that I only win because he doesn't want me to lose everything.
Yeah, now I remember…
I stepped back and faced him. "Do you even realize what you have just said?"
He looks at me still with shock on his face. "Nicodeim…" he said in a low voice. He stepped forward to me. "What are you talking about?"
"You're calling him a 'mere physician' as if you are in a position to mock a friend of a son's duke."
He smiles a little bit. "Calm down, Nicodeim. All I'm saying is—"
"You lose, Aldric," I cut him off. "Not because you made me win. Rather because you are weak against me. Haven't you realized by now that I possess elite magic?"
"Nicodeim…" he said. He tries to approach me again. "Can you please—"
"Don't you dare to come near me!" I said as I pointed my sword at him.
"Enough!" We both looked at my father when he shouted. "Have you lost your dignity, Nicodeim? The duel has ended, you don't need to point your sword against him again."
That's when I realized that I lost my temper. I release my sword as I bow my head. "I apologize, Sir Aldric. I went too far."
"No, Lord Nicodeim," he said in a soft voice. It made me look at him.
He speaks again, "I was the one who should ask for an apology. I know you got mad when I insulted your friend. And to be honest, I only did that to see why you went this far just to save him to your father. But now, I see the reason."
My eyebrows furrowed. What does he mean by reason? Does he think Livius is a close friend of mine?
No, no, no, no! I only got pissed because I was worried that his words will trigger Livius's hatred and it will increase again. Because if that happens, I am the one who will suffer in the end!
"Sir Aldric, no. I—"
"I see you really hiding something to be this confident."
Father suddenly approaches us, he's with the remaining elite knights. Aldric immediately bows his head to pay respect to him.
I turned my gaze to my father. "Make sure you won't take back your words," I said.
He looks at me intensely. "You know that I never take back my words," he said. "You're friend is now free. And never bring a shame on this mansion again."
After he said that, he turned around and walked away. That leaves me and the four elite knights.
Lyra immediately put her hands around me. "As expected to the son of our master! You've grown excellent as he is!" she said.
I just smiled at her.
Then Erynn also speaks as she smiles at me. "I never imagine my husband got defeated by someone like you, Lord Nicodeim. You are far from the little kid I know."
"Hey," Aldric interfered. "You don't need to mention that," he complains.
It made us all laugh.
Lyra speaks again still clinging to me. "Yeah, I mean this kid never managed to land a strike at me when I trained him before!" she said.
Now I can't smile while remembering that time.
"But you really are amazing, Lord Nicodeim," Garrick said. "Congratulations on proving your words to your father."
A genuine smile appears again on my lips. "Thank you, guys."
Lyra finally removed her hand from me. "You have your freedom now, kid. You can do anything as you please from now on," she said.
I stared at her. "What?"
She furrowed her eyebrows at me. "You didn't know? That's part of your deal with the duke. If you won this duel, you will be free to do everything you wanted to do as you please. He won't interfere with any decisions you will made from now on."
My mouth opened and then closed as I heard that. I guess I did a very great job today!
***
The four of them accompany me to Livius. They don't need to do this but they insisted since they wanted to meet him.
They think Livius and I are friends. I can't bring myself to tell them I only save him so I won't die in this world.
As we reached the cell where Livius was, the guard immediately opened the door.
Livius is just sitting there while looking down. But when he senses someone is here, he looks at us. Then he furrowed when he realized that the guard opened the door.
I smirked at him. "I told you, right? You will only spend a night in here!" I said.
"You are now free, Young Master. Lord Nicodeim effortlessly won the duel against the leader of the elite knights of a duke," Erynn said while looking at Livius.
"Erynn, I told you that you don't need to mentioned that," Aldric said to his wife.
We just waited for Livius to get out of the cell. He still looks in disbelief. Well, I can't blame him because I can't believe too that I won.
"Well, we just wanted to see you out from prison," Aldric said. "Now that you're free, we should leave you and Lord Nicodeim alone. We still need to visit Duke Nicomar," he added.
I looked at them four. "Thank you. Be safe wherever your mission is."
"Of course!" Lyra said. "We still wanted to see you become stronger!"
Erynn looks at me. "I agree," she said as she nodded. "Who knows, in the future not only you defeated a leader of the elite knights of a duke but also the current Magus Lord of Arventia?"
Aldric chuckled. "Seriously Erynn, stop it already please."
I was about to tell them that I never planned to do that but Garrick also spoke. "Until we meet again, Lord Nicodeim."
And that's how they finally leave the two of us.
[NOTICE: Quest "Save Livius from Imprisonment" is now completed. Rewards have been issued to your inventory. Additional information or new quest details may now be available. Check your system interface for updates.]
I wasted no time and looked at Livius. "Now, are you ready to claim your dignity?" I asked.
He frowns at me. "W-what are you t-talking about, m-my l-lord?"
"Come on, are you really just going to accept that you can't heal Sebastian just because they won't let you use your herbs?" I asked. "You are a Sarrafort, you never need a herbs in the first place to heal someone. You are more talented than that!"
He bows his head. "M-my l-lord, it's fine. I believe that is my limit… and I already accepted that—"
"Do you heard everything that I said to my father yesterday?" I cut him off asking that. "You have talent in healing. You are just afraid to get out from your comfort zone," I added.
I pat his shoulder and speak again. "Believe me, man. This is your sign to prove to everyone that you can do better than this."
Livius didn't even bother to look at me.
I sighed. I don't want to do this but this is the only way I think I can do to convince him. 'Persuasion.'
"Aren't you worried someone is in bad situation and you know in yourself you can help him but you didn't?" I asked.
Finally, he lifted his gaze at me. "B-but… they won't let me… use my herbs. Maybe, I can't save him."
I removed my hands from his shoulder and crossed my arms. "Livius, the herbs are a tool, not the cure. You've studied the body and healing techniques your entire life. Don't let one failure define you."
"How about the guards, my lord? For sure, they won't let me…" He bowed his head again. "...get near to Sir Sebastian… again…"
A grin flashes on my lips again. "Is that a problem?" I said. He looks at me frowning. "Do you forget who am I in this house?" I asked.
I turned around the way out of the cell. "Follow me. Let me show you who is the real boss in this house."
I still haven't completed the primary quest regarding gaining his trust. I need to do everything I can to complete that quest.
While walking through the corridor, I activated a skill. 'Inspect.'
I know my range is only five meters, but this is more than enough to locate where are the other guards and footmen in this house.
Some footmen already saw the both of us passing the hallway and they just greeted me. I act innocent as if we are now on our way to let Livius go home.
They are aware that Livius is now free to go. But what they didn't know was that we were heading to Sebastian's room.
The way to the main door of the house is opposite the way to Sebastian's room. This is the start of our problem with the footmen and guards.
But at least, Livius is with me and he is now determined to finish the job he left.
[NOTICE: Quest "Reignite Livius's Confident" is now completed. Rewards have been issued to your inventory. Additional information or new quest details may now be available. Check your system interface for updates.]