Lord of Rot

He was also one of the rare men Stacy didn’t find repulsive.

Their engagement should have been a natural next step. But now that Knight Wisdom had tasked Lewis with making it happen, he was at a loss for what to do.

His proposals had probably been rejected so many times that his confidence was long since shattered.

’That’s right! A father should command his son. I’ll just have Bode do it!’ A spark of inspiration hit Lewis. He quickly grabbed someone and asked, ”Have you seen Bode?”

”Lord Bode seems to be discussing matters with Lord Kunber.”

”What could they possibly have to discuss that can’t be done at the banquet!” Lewis fumed. ’My son is useless, as expected. I’ll have to do it myself.’

’Wait a minute.’

’It’s one thing for my son to be missing from the banquet, but what about my daughter, the guest of honor?’

He glanced at a young girl surrounded by handsome young men. She was the daughter of some Knight, attending a banquet for the first time. She was young, shy, and very beautiful—the undisputed center of attention at any normal party this year.

’How is Leech gone too?!’

’Am I hosting this banquet just to give other people a stage to show off?’

’Banquets cost a fortune, and not a single member of my own family is even here!’

”My lord, my lord, it’s terrible!”

A Soldier leaned close to Lewis and whispered, ”Miss Stacy and Lord Leech... they’re fighting again.”

”What!”

Lewis’s fury surged. ”On such an important day... Today, I-I’m going to kill her!”

The Soldier quickly grabbed Lewis. ”My lord, you can’t beat Miss Stacy.”

”Get lost! You think I need you to remind me?!”

He kicked the Soldier. ”Now hurry up and take me there, before Leech is seriously injured!”

”They’re at the training ground.”

Lewis shook off the Soldier and dashed out.

「...」

In the training ground, after several charges from Stacy, the greatsword in Leech’s hand finally broke.

Her charges seemed to carry some sort of force field; her greatsword was several times sturdier than Leech’s.

The Soldier acting as referee was about to call a stop to the match when he saw Leech drop his broken sword. Leech took two quick steps forward and threw a savage punch—a completely unadorned strike that made the air itself seem to howl in pain.

Stacy blocked it with the flat of her blade.

Only she truly understood the extent of Leech’s strength. She had to rely on constant bursts from her Extraordinary power to achieve immense strength temporarily, but Leech’s was consistent.

To put it another way, Stacy’s Extraordinary power was currently limited to charging in a straight line. After each burst, she had to rest. Leech, however, could continuously apply his extreme strength through various techniques and nimble movements, because his Extraordinary power was simply the strongest, most basic physique imaginable.

Leech’s fist pressed down on the spine of the two-handed greatsword, and as he and Stacy struggled for dominance, the blade bent to a dramatic degree, like a drawn bow.

Just as it reached its limit, Leech ducked out of the way.

VMMMM! The two-handed greatsword snapped back, vibrating violently.

The recoil was so strong that Stacy instinctively let go. The sword flew from her grasp, grazing the refereeing Soldier before embedding itself in a wooden rack.

He wiped away a cold sweat and silently backed away.

In the center of the training ground, Leech’s fist closed in. Stacy crossed her arms in front of her, protecting her body as she forcibly blocked his punch.

Seizing the moment when his old strength was spent and new strength had yet to gather, she quickly unleashed her Extraordinary power.

Charge!

The force of the charge sent Leech staggering backward.

But as the force of Stacy’s charge dissipated, Leech seized the opportunity to grab both of her hands.

’A perfect chance to restrain her!’

He yanked Stacy into his arms, taking the chance to lock her hands behind her back.

To an onlooker, it looked as if he had suddenly pulled Stacy into a firm, intimate embrace.

The distance between them closed in an instant, their noses nearly touching.

Eye to eye.

Stacy froze.

It was as if the world around them had gone silent.

For no reason at all, a memory from long ago surfaced.

In her memory, it was a quiet afternoon many years ago.

In Stacy’s bedroom, she was racking her brain for a way to escape her father’s punishment. She had been forbidden from training because she had just beaten up a young nobleman who tried to sweet-talk her at a ball—beaten him so badly he’d wet his pants.

Lewis’s order to her was to act like a lady, find a suitable partner, and stop brandishing swords and spears.

Water Hyacinth was lying on the bed with a book, turning a page every now and then.

”Have you never thought about it?” Miss Water Hyacinth asked.

”About what?” Stacy asked distractedly, still trying to figure out her predicament.

”Love,” said Miss Water Hyacinth.

”No,” Stacy said. ”We were born into noble families. From birth, we’ve enjoyed things common people can only dream of. Our marriages have nothing to do with love.”

”But when the impulse comes, you won’t be able to control it,” Water Hyacinth countered. ”What type of man do you like?”

Stacy answered seriously, ”At the very least, he has to be able to defeat me. I won’t even consider a man who’s weaker than I am.”

”I really can’t get through to you.” Miss Water Hyacinth sighed in resignation. She couldn’t imagine anyone who could defeat the ’Generaless.’

”What was that impulse you mentioned earlier?” Stacy asked curiously.

Even a ’Generaless’ was still a woman, and she couldn’t help but be curious about the stirrings of love.

”It’s like the wind blowing through the window, brushing past the curtains.” Water Hyacinth pointed to the curtains, which were rustling in the breeze. ”It happens naturally. When it comes, you’ll understand. And then...”

Water Hyacinth lowered her head and quickly flipped through her book. ”Ah, here it is! Then, you’ll want to kiss him!”

”The book even says that?” Stacy asked skeptically, leaning in for a look.

But Water Hyacinth hurriedly snapped the book shut, her expression certain. ”Of course it’s in the book!”

The memory flashed by. Looking at Leech, who was just inches away, Stacy suddenly realized that the man who could defeat her had appeared.

Vaguely, she could almost see the wind blowing through the window, making the curtains dance.

It all felt so natural.

’What came next again?’

’Right, kiss him!’

’Just kiss him naturally.’

Just as Stacy was about to follow that feeling—like the wind rustling the curtains—and naturally lean in, an ill-timed laugh rang out. ”Hahaha! Good! Well done, Leech!”

Lewis, who had just arrived, saw the exact moment Leech forcefully ”embraced” Stacy.

A handsome man and a beautiful woman. If one could ignore their bruised and swollen faces and Stacy’s torn dress, it would truly be as beautiful as a painting.

The old father was satisfied, tears of joy welling in his eyes!

Leech, who had just restrained Stacy, had noticed the change in her eyes after he’d pinned her. He was hesitating, debating whether or not to end the fight with a back suplex, when his uncle Lewis’s laughter echoed out. Then, Leech saw Stacy’s expression change again.

It shifted from a maidenly flutter to bashfulness, then to embarrassed fury. And then his own hands were seized by hers.

’How can one person’s eyes show so many different emotions!’

This time, Stacy didn’t use her charge with her whole body. Instead, she channeled it into her hands. Her strength overwhelmed Leech’s, and like iron pincers, she clamped his hands behind his back, giving him no chance to resist.

Then, Leech found himself being lifted up.

His body was airborne!

’This is bad!’

’A suplex!’

BOOM!

”GACK—!” Lewis’s laughter was cut short.

The dust settled.

Stacy stood frozen in a back-bending bridge pose. Leech was slammed into the ground beneath her, his condition unknown.

Lewis recalled how something similar had happened at every single one of her previous birthday banquets. His rage could no longer be suppressed. ”STA! CY! I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!!”