Lord of Rot

”What did they talk to you about?”

A beautiful figure in blue walked over. Her blonde hair was tied in a simple ponytail, unadorned by any accessories, and she wore only a long blue dress.

Stacy’s arrival made Leech’s eyes light up. She was the type of person even less suited for long dresses than Grelli. In Grelli’s case, it was a combination of her lively personality, her tan skin, her adventurous spirit, and her physique. For Stacy, however, it was purely a matter of temperament.

She ought to be wearing plate armor, holding a longsword, and standing proudly before a vast army.

’Who says a woman should only have one kind of beauty!’

”Business,” Leech replied. He didn’t want to talk much about it and instead asked, ”How have things been in Linta Bay recently?”

”There’s going to be a war.”

”A war?” Leech frowned.

The Eastern Gorge was still relatively peaceful, which could only mean the Wisdoms weren’t fighting for it.

That would also explain why the people of Linta Bay were on high alert.

”Some tribes from the Endor Plateau have attacked,” Stacy said. ”Grandfather has decided to go and help.”

Leech: ”...”

He didn’t believe Stacy’s explanation. No one helps for no reason.

”My mother’s family asked for help,” Stacy added. ”And my grandmother’s family too.”

’So that was it.’

”Do you remember what you said when we parted ways?” She suddenly raised an eyebrow, looking at Leech.

Leech flashed a brilliant smile. ”That I’d make you cry?”

”I won’t be holding back this time!”

’Time to get revenge for all the beatings I’ve taken since we were kids!’

The two exchanged a look, seeing a tacit understanding in each other’s eyes. Then they slowly slipped into a corner and quietly exited.

The banquet continued, but the main characters had already left.

Only a few people who were paying attention to them noticed. Some were hoping to catch Baron Porcupine’s fast ship and become a Baroness, while others hoped to conquer the Invincible Female General and rise in status. But they didn’t dare to leave like the pair and could only remain at the banquet, trying their best to show off their plumage.

A banquet of this caliber was a rare opportunity, and no one, man or woman, would waste a chance to display themselves.

「The training grounds.」

Because of their arrival, all training had to stop.

One Soldier, seeing Leech and Stacy arrive at the training grounds again, immediately thought of a certain possibility and trotted off.

”Not going to change?” Leech drew a greatsword and rotated his wrist.

The greatsword spun in his hand like a windmill, its movements leaving afterimages.

Stacy bent down, grabbed the hem of her dress, and yanked hard.

”RRRIP!”

The cumbersome long dress tore open from the knees, revealing slender calves with defined muscle.

She also grabbed a greatsword. ”I don’t need to change to beat you!”

They both turned their heads at the same time, looking at the Soldier they had chosen to be their temporary referee.

The Soldier was extremely nervous. He kept looking toward the entrance of the training grounds, hoping a savior would arrive soon.

’This is the young lady’s birthday banquet! Why aren’t they drinking and chatting at the party? Why do they have to come here and fight?’

’But then again, you have to admit they’re two peas in a pod.’

’He still remembered the last time Leech visited. Stacy had beaten him so badly he couldn’t get out of bed, and afterward, all the Soldiers at the training grounds were punished for it. If Baron Leech got beaten up again... Why in the world was there such a man who wasn’t afraid to die? A man who could actually conquer their young lady surely didn’t exist! Oh, Four Gods, please knock some sense into him.’

’I hope Lord Lewis gets here soon, or this situation is going to get out of control.’

But under the pressure of their combined gazes, the Soldier swallowed hard and had no choice but to say, ”I hope you’ll both keep it civil. Begin!”

”BOOM!”

With unrivaled speed and presence, Stacy instantly rushed in front of Leech.

She was even stronger than in their last duel. The dust and sand of the training grounds were kicked up by her charge. For a moment, Leech felt as if he were seeing a fully armed, Extraordinary heavy cavalryman charging at him. No, that was basically a full-throttle armored vehicle!

A ridiculously simple charge!

Leech made his choice in an instant. He gripped the greatsword with both hands, bent his knees slightly, planted his heels, and swung the sword horizontally to meet the attack!

Stacy, wielding boundless power, brought her sword crashing down on Leech’s. The immense pressure immediately drove the blunt edge of Leech’s own blade back toward his chest plate.

’Such tyrannical and unreasonable power!’

Leech took a deep breath, abruptly sidestepped to dodge, and redirected the force on his sword to the side. Stacy, along with her sword, scraped past Leech by a hair’s breadth.

As Stacy came to a halt, Leech seized the opportunity and threw a punch.

He didn’t have the ability for explosive bursts, but he possessed excellent strength.

Stacy could only hold her greatsword horizontally before her chest to block.

”CLANG!”

The impact sent her stumbling back several steps.

Her ability was explosive bursts of power. During a burst, she was unrivaled, but once it ended, it was Leech’s chance to attack.

Leech seized the opportunity again, gripping his sword with his left hand and slashing from right to left.

”BOOM!”

The burst came again!

Leech had to dodge again.

After two clashes, the swords let out a ”KRAK!” sound.

Because of the strength Leech had just displayed, Stacy grew serious and began to truly use her own power.

This time Leech failed to dodge completely and was forced back a few steps. But his body was powerful, and his combat experience was appallingly vast—far beyond what a 20-year-old should possess. He quickly dispersed the force, taking no damage, and was even able to rapidly organize a counterattack!

「The banquet at Green Forest Castle.」

Lewis Wisdom, who had just come from his study, sighed to himself. ’She just loves bullying the boy.’

He and his father both admired Leech greatly. The past year had also proven that Leech’s strength was in no way inferior to the old Porcupine’s; in fact, he was even more outstanding.