Knight Breathing Technique, the Noble Who Fled the Wizard World

However, a tall man beside him looked at the badge on Leo's chest, a flicker of reverence flashing through his eyes.

A top-ten wizard seedling meant there was a high chance of becoming a wizard.

And wizards were beings they could only look up to.

The tall knight said, "John, they're calling for you. Could they be your friends from the Tower of Dawn?"

"Captain Aifel, you jest. They're just strangers; they mistook me for someone else," John said, shaking his head.

Aifel said solemnly, "John, Wizard Lane recommended you, which means you have the talent to become a knight. Perhaps one day you may even surpass me. But remember this: no matter how powerful a knight is, before a wizard, he is not worth mentioning."

Hearing Aifel say this, John's face filled with regret, pain, and unwillingness.

He thought that if he had not spent his mind on noble socializing, then even if he could not shine as brilliantly as Leo now did, perhaps he might have had a sliver of a chance to become a wizard.

But he had cast that chance away himself.

Aifel said earnestly, "John, Wizard Lane and I were once wizard seedlings brought to the Tower of Dawn in the same class."

"Later, I could not become a wizard, so I settled for second best and became a knight. Even so, Wizard Lane and I still share the bond of former classmates."

"Every connection with a wizard is precious beyond measure. I hope you will cherish it well. Do not throw away this bond of former classmates for a momentary 'reputation' or 'dignity.'"

John gritted his teeth and said, "I understand, Captain Aifel."

Aifel said, "There is also the purpose of this trip. We are looking for wizards to help us hunt sea monsters."

"If they are your friends from the Tower of Dawn, introduce them to me. I will try to persuade them."

"...All right, Captain Aifel."

A struggle flashed through John's eyes. In the end, he took a deep breath and walked toward Leo and the others.

"Danville, Chris, hello."

Chris had noticed John long ago. He stepped forward, threw an arm around John's shoulders, and said warmly, "John, how have you been since joining the Uriel Gathering?"

John's expression turned complicated. "Teaching Assistant Lane recommended me to the knights order. I am no longer a student of the Uriel Gathering; I am now a proud member of the knights order."

Chris's eyes widened. "What is this knights order?"

Leo did not know what the knights order was either.

John said, "The knights order is an organization similar to the Tower of Dawn."

"Although it cannot compare with the Tower of Dawn, some outstanding knights are just as powerful as the wizards of the Tower of Dawn."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Chris scratched his head, unable to understand why John was being so hesitant.

Listening to this, Leo secretly shook his head.

John was a proud man. If he had truly joined some impressive organization, he would certainly be boasting about it everywhere. Since he was hemming and hawing now, this knights order was surely where those who could not make it as wizards went.

Still, Leo had no intention of voicing his guess. He said, "John, we still need to buy herbs. We can talk next time when we have the time."

"Um... please wait a moment," John said. "Actually, Captain Aifel of our team has something he wants to discuss with you."

The moment John finished speaking, Aifel's voice sounded behind him.

"Hello, friends of John. My name is Aifel, and I am a squad captain of the Glory Knights Order." At some point, Aifel had already come to stand behind John.

Aifel was huge. Standing there, he made John look like a child.

But compared to Leo, he was still somewhat shorter.

"Hello, Mr. Aifel."

Aifel's gaze was mainly fixed on Leo. He made no effort to hide his reverence for him as he said:

"Two esteemed wizards, I will get straight to the point. Our knights order is hiring wizards to hunt sea monsters with us. Once the task is complete, we will offer fifty Magic Stones as payment. Would the two of you be willing to accept this task?"

Aifel looked at the two of them with expectation in his eyes.

Leo frowned slightly and looked at Chris.

Chris was a fisherman. Perhaps he had some experience when it came to sea monsters.

Instead, he saw Chris's dark face turn pale with fright.

Chris stammered, "Hunt sea monsters? I'm not going. Leo, let's hurry into the shop. If we're late, it might close."

Chris tugged Leo toward the herb shop beside them.

Seeing Leo and Chris leave, regret flashed through Aifel's eyes.

"What a pity, John. It seems we can only look for someone else."

Yet at that moment, John seemed utterly unaware as a voice sounded beside his ear.

The voice carried a bewitching flavor.

"John, honesty is also a knight's virtue. You should follow your heart. You are no longer that little worthless wizard seedling who could not become a wizard."

"You have cultivated the Knight Breathing Technique and have already become as powerful as a wizard."

"Your former wizard classmates are now as weak as ants before you."

"You need not feel inferior. You should follow the truest thoughts in your heart... let those former wizard classmates witness your current strength."

The voice was like a demon's whisper.

What it murmured was not a knight's justice, but savage violence.

John's gaze became firm.

That trace of regret, unwillingness, and helplessness turned into madness.

"Danville, Chris, Molly, Prince Sono—I will prove to them that I did not flee the path of wizardry. I merely chose a road better suited to me!"

"I am a noble. Compared to a petty profession like wizardry, it is obvious that the superior and magnificent profession of knighthood suits me better."

Only after they had put some distance between themselves and Aifel's group did Leo ask, "Chris, judging from your reaction, have you seen sea monsters before?"

"I have not seen one with my own eyes. But sea monsters are absolutely dangerous creatures that cannot be provoked." Chris's expression was grave. "When I was still in our territory, I encountered a sea monster attack. Many fishermen died then. Later, the lord sent warriors to subdue it, but more than a dozen warriors all died."

"What was even more terrifying came afterward. Our lord invited a wizard. Although the wizard successfully drove the sea monster away in the end, he was badly wounded as well and only left after recuperating for some time."

"We had better not touch terrifying creatures like sea monsters. No matter how many Magic Stones there are, you still need to be alive to take them. Those are monsters that can even grievously wound wizards."

Leo said, "Let's go back and ask Wizard Sally what she thinks."

Leo was still rather short on Magic Stones.

The Magic Stones needed for materials to refine the Withered Wood Potion.

The one thousand Magic Stones for the second appraisal.

If he could obtain fifty Magic Stones, then at the very least Leo could buy several more sets of Withered Wood Potion materials. His margin for error in refining the Withered Wood Potion would improve considerably as well.

"If you want to go, then go. But I definitely won't be going this time," Chris said firmly. From his reaction, it was clear how deep the psychological shadow sea monsters had left on him was.

A wizard being grievously wounded was absolutely the most frightening thing Chris had ever seen.

Leo and Chris entered the pharmacy. When Chris saw the elf, he became shy, blank, and clumsy again.

The elf smiled and said, "Welcome back, esteemed wizards. What would you like to purchase this time?"

Chris tugged at Leo's clothes and said, "Leo, she remembers me. She remembers me."