Chapter 165: Duel

"I’ll leave these books to you." Zharok smiled as he handed a stack of books to Ethan, these were books he wanted to gift to Leon.

"I will take good care of Liora and the cabin."

"Be careful on the road."

"Make sure you eat on time while I’m away."

"I know."

"If anything happens, go find Draugor or Vargan, if worst comes to worst, ask the giant dragon for help."

"Rest assured."

"That’s good, I trust you." Ethan patted Liora’s head.

Liora expressionlessly let Ethan pat her, then handed the Pearl in her arms over to him, Pearl leaped lightly onto Ethan’s shoulder and flicked her tail. "You guys better be on your best behavior, meow~"

After a brief farewell, Ethan walked over to the flatbed cart, he sat in the driver’s seat, summoned a massive Blood Jade Beast, and hitched it to the cart. "Let’s go."

The gigantic Blood Jade Beast started moving, pulling the cart forward with a heavy, lumbering sound.

Sitting on the cart, Mirelle picked up a wine jug and took a large swig. "It feels so good to leave the forest, it’s been over ten years since I last stepped out of there~"

"When was the last time you left the forest?"

"About ten years ago, I think? Back then, I drank all the alcohol in the forest and had to come out to buy more, I ended up finding some really delicious wine in an elven territory on the edge of the forest."

’An elven territory on the edge of the forest... could it be Leon’s territory?’

After that, Mirelle simply kept drinking and didn’t speak another word, Ethan was more than happy for the peace and quiet.

They crossed the Karnabal Plains and regrouped with Leon’s party on the mandatory route leading out of the forest.

"Mr. Ethan, you’re here...?!" Spotting Ethan from afar, Leon waved happily.

But the next second, his smile froze on his face. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his hand gripped the hilt of his sword. "...Why are you here?"

His gaze was locked onto Mirelle, his eyes filled with dread and apprehension.

"You know me?"

"...Do you not remember?"

Mirelle tilted her head in confusion, Leon’s gaze, however, was sharp and brimming with hostility.

"The atmosphere doesn’t seem quite right, meow~"

"Mr. Leon, I don’t know what happened, but Mirelle is..."

"There is no need for you to worry, Mr. Ethan." Leon, who was usually mild mannered and pleasant toward Ethan, acted completely out of character this time, he interrupted Ethan directly, staring daggers at Mirelle.

"Have you forgotten how, ten years ago, you dined and dashed in my territory?!"

"You actually dine and dash, meow?" Pearl looked at Mirelle in sheer disbelief.

Who could have ever imagined that an ancient magical beast would do something like dining and dashing? Ethan was also utterly astounded.

Mirelle crossed her arms, thought back carefully for a moment, and snapped her fingers. "I remember now, ten years ago, I did indeed visit your territory, I think it was a shop selling mutton."

"Exactly, that day, you ate three servings of roasted lamb chops, two roasted legs of lamb, five jugs of goat’s milk, and drank three bottles of fermented milk wine."

Watching the drama unfold, Pearl smiled and teased, not minding if things blew out of proportion. "You certainly ate quite a lot, meow~"

"You remember it so clearly, I don’t even remember myself."

"And then, while you were dining and dashing, you got into a fight with a man."

As Leon’s gaze grew sharper, Mirelle’s smile became brighter.

Pearl gently nudged Ethan. "Should we try to stop them, meow?"

"Let’s see how things play out." As Ethan and Pearl quietly discussed their next move, Leon slowly drew his sword.

"You beat that man to a pulp."

"I remember now, I definitely taught that guy a harsh lesson." Mirelle licked her lips, a sly glint flashing in her eyes.

"That man was you."

"So it was him, meow?"

"I have always remembered that defeat, you dine-and-dasher, today I will make you pay in blood."

"Hehe... Then let’s see if you have the ability." Mirelle flashed a provocative smile as silver spider silk materialized in her hands.

Just as she was about to launch her attack, Ethan grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and pulled her back. "Don’t fight."

"I don’t want to fight, he’s the one looking for trouble."

"Mr. Leon, on my account, could we let this matter go? I will pay for that meal."

"This isn’t about the money, I just want a fair duel with you, I admit I suffered a crushing defeat back then, but I am not the same man I was."

"So you’ve been holding a grudge over that all this time..."

"That guy was really weak back then."

"What did you say?" Mirelle’s words completely enraged Leon, and he fully unsheathed his sword.

Mirelle let out a disdainful scoff, preparing to manipulate her spider silk to attack.

Ethan let out a helpless sigh. "If you’re going to fight, take it somewhere else."

Rather than trying to stop them here, it would be better to just let them have a good fight and get it out of their systems.

Ethan let go, and Mirelle immediately hopped onto the flatbed cart.

"Are we just going to watch from here, meow?"

"It’s better if they resolve this themselves."

Feeling extremely apologetic for making a guest wait while he settled a personal grudge, Leon blushed and ordered his subordinates, "Let’s go."

Leon’s territory remained peaceful and serene, across the vast plains, flocks of sheep grazed leisurely — a scene straight out of a pastoral idyll.

The group traveled across the territory and arrived in front of Leon’s estate.

Leon spoke to Ethan and Pearl, "I have prepared lunch."

"What about me?"

"You come with me, our business isn’t finished yet."

"What? Do you want me to teach you another harsh lesson? Are you a masochist or something?"

Gritting his teeth, Leon spun around and marched toward the training grounds.

Just as Mirelle was about to follow him, Ethan grabbed her. "Don’t kill him."

"Then can I beat him half to death?"

"...Show some restraint."

"Alright, alright, I get it." Mirelle smiled, patted Ethan’s shoulder, and turned toward the training grounds.

Ethan watched her go and let out a helpless sigh, he picked up Pearl and walked into the estate, Leon’s subordinates had already been waiting inside.

"Lord Leon seems to hold quite a grudge against Mirelle."

"Hahaha... Ten years ago, the Lord Count was at the peak of his youth and arrogance."

"Is that so?"

"At that time, he was hailed as one of the kingdom’s top ten swordsmen, that defeat was a huge blow to him, he couldn’t sleep well for days."

"He’s far too obsessed, meow, things in life rarely go exactly as planned."

"That’s exactly right."

Having experienced countless battles within the Ascendant Tower, Ethan had naturally tasted defeat countless times, if one constantly obsessed over winning and losing, they could never improve, he only hoped Leon could take this opportunity to let go of his past obsession.

"Let’s go eat, meow~"