"Hm? Lord Garen, you came too?"
Barker greeted Garen in surprise.
"Yeah, I just got here too."
A group of people filed in after them.
"Looks like we picked the wrong day to come."
Garen thought to himself. Linley and Delia were meeting again after ten years, and if he stayed, he'd only be a third wheel.
But since they were already here, they might as well go in and say hello before leaving.
"Delia, Garen, Jenny—you're all here?"
Linley's mood brightened the moment he saw them.
"Wharton, please entertain Marquis Kiefer and Prince Scott for me."
The two spoiled young nobles weren't worth Linley's attention, so he sent them away without a second thought.
Delia then introduced her teacher to Linley.
The five of them sat around a round table.
"Linley, I heard you're going to duel that Heidesen. What do you think? Are you confident?"
Garen asked the question that was on everyone's mind.
"If he used his full strength against Olivier, then I'm fairly confident I can beat him."
Linley replied with confidence.
Over the past few months, under Doehring Cowart's guidance, he had made his first steps in the Mysteries of Earth Elemental Laws. Applying what he'd learned to other areas had also helped him make a major breakthrough in Earth Pulse, and he'd developed a powerful defensive technique. He was confident he had a good chance against Heidesen.
"Can't you refuse to duel Heidesen? He hasn't lost in hundreds of years. Who knows what hidden techniques he might have?"
Delia offered her concerned advice.
"Linley is a Saint-level expert. Now that he's accepted, how can he back out without a reason?" Master Longers said.
"Don't worry, Delia. Linley has his magical beasts, doesn't he? He may be a warrior, but he's also a Level Nine