Chapter 262: Hero’s Hidden Potential

Xiao Tao tilted his head, looking puzzled by the question.

"Through here, of course?"

"So you really did just walk straight through the defensive barrier..."

"The defensive barrier?"

Viktor knocked on the invisible wall again, this time making sure Xiao Tao could see what he was doing.

Looking closely, Qiu Nuoya could indeed make out a thin wall of magic power. Whenever Viktor touched it, ripples spread across its surface, making the magical barrier visible for a brief moment.

"Whoa! I didn’t notice it at all!"

Apparently, Xiao Tao could see the ripples too. Looking intrigued, he reached out to touch the wall, but just like Qiu Nuoya, his fingers passed straight through the invisible barrier without any resistance.

That left only Warren.

When everyone’s eyes turned toward him, Warren approached with a look that seemed to ask what their problem was. Sure enough, he crossed the defensive barrier without the slightest difficulty.

"This makes absolutely no sense."

Viktor looked thoroughly displeased, clearly unable to understand what was happening.

"Why is everyone staring at me like that? Did I do something? I guess pointing a sword at the prince might have been going a little too far, but..."

Warren had completely misunderstood what everyone was concerned about.

Viktor shook his head and let out a weary sigh.

"What on earth are you?"

"Huh? I’m the one who wants to know why you’re asking me something like that!"

Amid their bickering, only Lady Sherria remained cheerful. Smiling brightly, she said, "I’m sure the Hero possesses special powers, just like Qiu Nuoya!"

After parting ways with Lady Sherria in the garden, Qiu Nuoya and the others returned to their guest rooms in the royal castle.

Lady Sherria had been invited to the castle as both the Second Prince’s fiancée and a guest of the royal family.

"That was incredible back there! Electricity wrapped around your sword, and it looked just like lightning!"

Xiao Tao looked up at Warren as he spoke. Warren, however, wore a somewhat conflicted expression.

"I can’t use lightning magic yet. That wasn’t my power. It was the power of the Divine Sword," he muttered.

It seemed Warren was uncomfortable with being praised for a special power that wasn’t originally his own.

Qiu Nuoya understood. He felt the same way.

Being suddenly granted a special ability was one thing. If someone could accept it without hesitation, that was fine too, but it was only natural to feel overwhelmed by such a sudden change.

Qiu Nuoya sometimes thought that being able to look at such a power and think, I’m one of the chosen ones! without a hint of doubt was a talent in itself.

His own self-esteem wasn’t particularly high. Whenever people praised him, he tended to shrink back and think, Someone like me doesn’t deserve that...

Perhaps this was what it meant to be crushed by one’s own abilities. Even so, he had no intention of giving up on the effort to gradually turn those abilities into genuine confidence.

Still, he couldn’t help restraining himself from becoming conceited and believing he was special simply because he’d been granted some mysterious power. Perhaps that made him a coward at heart.

Well, there was no changing his cautious nature. He had always been the type to knock on a stone bridge before crossing it.

"Hey, Warren, someone once told me something similar. The usefulness of a tool depends on the skill of the person using it. A tool is just a tool, and if the wielder’s abilities aren’t a match for it, then no matter how amazing the tool is, its true potential will never be revealed."

Qiu Nuoya paused for a moment before continuing.

"So what happened back there was proof that you were able to draw out the Divine Sword’s power. It wasn’t the sword’s power alone. I think you should be proud of yourself for being able to bring out that kind of strength."

"Nuoya..."

Warren stared down at his own hands.

That was right. One day, that power would truly become his. There was no need for him to rush things just yet.

"You originally possessed more magical power than Igor, and perhaps because you have spent so much time around Nuoya watching him handle magic, you have also become quite adept at controlling it yourself. You are also reasonably compatible with both the Wind Element and the Water Element. An achievement like that was only natural for you."

"Huh...?"

Warren turned toward the unexpected voice, looking surprised. Standing there with his arms crossed and the same displeased expression as always was Viktor. He pointedly avoided looking directly at Warren.

"To put it simply, you were not the one who drew out the Divine Sword’s power. Rather, the Divine Sword drew out your latent potential. And that can only mean one thing: it has recognized you as worthy of wielding it."

"Um... Viktor?"

"To be perfectly clear, I dislike you!"

Viktor turned toward Warren with a fierce glare and pointed a finger straight at him.

"Well... I already knew that."

"However! You have kept up with a Rank A adventurer like me, a Rank B adventurer like Igor, and even someone as absurdly powerful as Qiu Nuoya. Warren..."

"!"

"I believe I can at least acknowledge your courage and determination."

"!!"

Warren’s eyes widened in astonishment.

Well, of course he was surprised. Viktor had never called Warren by his name before, let alone said anything positive about him. Though, honestly, that was a problem in itself.

This was clearly the result of Qiu Nuoya’s little lecture earlier.

"You may be an ordinary talent with no particularly outstanding gifts, but you do possess an exceptionally persistent nature. Or perhaps I should call it sheer stubbornness? In any case, you should continue developing that talent to your heart’s content!"

The last part sounded a little forced, as though Viktor were saying it against his will. Still, considering his attitude toward Warren up until now, this was probably the equivalent of a passing grade with a little gold star attached.