However, a tall man beside him stared at the badge on Leo's chest, a trace of awe flashing through his eyes.
A Wizard Seedling ranked in the top ten had a very high chance of becoming a Wizard.
And Wizards were beings they could only look up to.
The tall knight said, "John, they're calling you. Could they be your friends from the Tower of Dawn?"
"Captain Aifel, you jest. They're just strangers. They must have mistaken me for someone else," John said, shaking his head.
Aifel said solemnly, "John, Wizard Lane personally recommended you, which means you have the talent to become a knight. You may even surpass me someday. But remember this: no matter how strong a knight is, they are nothing before a Wizard."
Hearing Aifel say that, John's face filled with regret, pain, and unwillingness.
He thought that if he had not wasted his mind on aristocratic socializing, then even if he could not shine as brilliantly as Leo did now, perhaps he might have had some chance of becoming a Wizard.
But he had thrown that opportunity away himself.
Aifel said earnestly, "John, Wizard Lane and I were once Wizard Seedlings brought to the Tower of Dawn in the same batch. Later, I failed to become a Wizard and settled for becoming a knight. Even so, Wizard Lane and I still share the bond of former classmates."
"Every connection with a Wizard is invaluable. I hope you will cherish it properly. Don't throw away that bond of classmates for the sake of temporary 'face' and 'dignity.'"
John clenched his teeth and said, "I understand, Captain Aifel."
Aifel said, "There is also the purpose of this trip. We are here to find Wizards willing to hunt sea monsters with us."
"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 flicker of struggle passed 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. "Assistant Instructor Lane recommended me to the knights' order. I am no longer a student of the Uriel Gathering. I am now an honorable member of a knights' order."
Chris's eyes widened. "What is a knights' order?"
Leo did not know what a knights' order was either.
John said, "A knights' order is an organization similar to the Tower of Dawn. Although it cannot compare to 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 evasive.
Listening to this, Leo secretly shook his head.
John was a proud man. If he had truly joined some impressive organization, he would have bragged about it everywhere. Since he was now hemming and hawing, this knights' order was surely where those who could not make it as Wizards ended up.
Still, Leo had no intention of voicing his guess. He said, "John, we still need to buy herbs. We can talk another time."
"Um... please wait a moment," John said. "Actually, Captain Aifel of our team wants to speak with you."
The moment John finished speaking, Aifel's voice sounded behind him.
"Hello, John's friends. My name is Aifel, and I am a squad captain of the Glory Knights Order." At some point, Aifel had appeared behind John.
Aifel was huge. Standing there, he made John look like a child.
Even so, he was still somewhat shorter than Leo.
"Hello, Mr. Aifel."
Aifel's gaze was focused mainly on Leo. He did not hide his awe toward Leo at all as he said,
"Esteemed Wizards, I will get straight to the point. Our knights' order is hiring Wizards to hunt sea monsters with us. Once the job is done, we will offer fifty Magic Stones as payment. Would either of you be willing to take this mission?"
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 to the shop. If we're late, it might close."
Chris dragged Leo toward the herb shop nearby.
Seeing Leo and Chris leave, regret flashed through Aifel's eyes.
"What a pity, John. It seems we can only look for someone else."
At that moment, John seemed completely unaware as a voice rang beside his ear.
The voice carried a seductive quality.
"John, honesty is also a knight's virtue. You should follow your heart. You are no longer that useless little Wizard Seedling who could not become a Wizard."
"You have cultivated the Knight Breathing Technique and have already become as powerful as a Wizard."
"Those Wizard classmates from the past are now as weak as ants before you."
"You do not need to feel inferior. You should follow your truest thoughts... 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 resolute.
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 path more suitable for me!"
"I am a noble. Compared to such a petty profession as Wizardry, an outstanding and magnificent profession like knighthood is clearly more suited to me."
Only after they had put some distance between themselves and Aifel's group did Leo ask, "Chris, judging by your reaction, have you seen a sea monster before?"
"I haven't seen one with my own eyes. But sea monsters are absolutely dangerous creatures that must not be provoked," Chris said gravely. "Back when I was in our territory, there was an incident where sea monsters attacked. Many fishermen died. Later, the lord sent warriors to subdue it, but all dozen or so warriors were killed."
"What was even more terrifying came afterward. Our lord hired a Wizard. Although the Wizard successfully drove the sea monster away, he was seriously injured as well. He only left after recuperating for some time."
"We should stay away from terrifying creatures like sea monsters. No matter how many Magic Stones there are, they are worthless if you are dead. Those are monsters capable of seriously injuring even Wizards."
Leo said, "Let's go back and ask Wizard Sally what she thinks."
Leo was still quite short on Magic Stones.
The materials needed to brew the Withered Wood Potion cost Magic Stones.
The second appraisal required one thousand Magic Stones.
If he could get fifty Magic Stones, Leo could at least buy several more sets of Withered Wood Potion ingredients, greatly increasing his margin for error when brewing it.
"If you want to go, go ahead. I definitely won't be going this time," Chris said firmly. From his reaction, it was obvious just how deep a psychological scar sea monsters had left on him.
A Wizard being seriously injured was without a doubt the most frightening thing Chris had ever witnessed.
Leo and Chris entered the shop. When Chris saw the elf, he became shy, dazed, and clumsy again.
The elf smiled and said, "Welcome back, esteemed Wizards. What would you like to buy this time?"
Chris tugged at Leo's clothes and said, "Leo, she remembers me. She remembers me."
Before you continue