Demon King: Hero, don’t run away!

15: Chapter 15 On the Line 15: Chapter 15 On the Line With a face full of disdain, Yang Yu laughed like a villain, “Why are you so sure that I’m the leader of this squad and not her?”

Sekamens spoke with self-righteous conviction, “A girl, making such dangerous decisions?

Impossible!”

Is that even something a person would say?

Yang Yu shook his head, “As you say, I am indeed the leader of this squad, but I am certainly not the kind of person you describe, with a brain addled by greed.

I was completely confident that I could wipe out those goblins without your help.

And just as you mentioned, we’re very close to the town, so if we really couldn’t beat them, my teammate could just pick up her slim frame and go.

We wouldn’t need your help.”

Pick up?

Did you really think that?

The thought was too beautiful; Bai Jin couldn’t imagine being carried off like a parcel.

She glanced at Sekamens, then at Yang Yu.

As they confronted each other, she couldn’t get a word in.

“Originally, I thought you had good intentions but were just messing things up.

I was going to just thank you and leave, but then you started falsely accusing me of all sorts of things.

Enough talk, draw your sword!”

They say a gentleman uses his mouth not his fists, but Sekamens looked utterly stunned.

He had never encountered someone who picked a fight with him upon first meeting.

Truly, a newborn calf isn’t afraid of tigers.

“Fine, since you’re so spirited!

I’ll test your strength.

If you earn my recognition today, I’ll apologize for intervening without permission.”

[Challenge Task: Sekamens is a well-known adventurer in Rhodes City, recognized for his strength.

Task Requirements: Withstand Sekamens’ attacks for three minutes and earn his recognition.

Reward: +1 lottery draw, 3000 Experience, +10 reputation]

Originally, Yang Yu intended to simply use bombastic reasoning to leave his opponent speechless, but he never imagined that this would trigger a task.

Upon seeing the task details, he thought to heck with reasoning, let’s just fight.

The 3000 Experience was enough to make up for the Elite Monster he had just lost.

Unwarranted killing between adventurers would lead to expulsion from the adventurer’s guild and being relegated to the ranks of unlicensed black workers.

Moreover, Sekamens didn’t seem the type to hold a grudge over a challenge, so Yang Yu felt confident about his safety.

Licking his lips, Yang Yu smiled provocatively.

“Just don’t regret it!”

“The one who will regret it is you!”

Sekamens lifted his silver-white Long Spear, confidence etched onto his face.

Among his peers in the adventurer world, he had been unbeatable for far too long—it can be a lonely existence at the top.

“Hold on a second!

I expended quite a bit of stamina just now.

I’m not foolish enough to start fighting you directly like this!”

Stretching his limbs, Yang Yu intentionally showed a look of extreme fatigue.

Meanwhile, Thief Qi raised his index finger, jeering.

“You talked so confidently before, but now that it’s time for a real fight, you’re full of excuses!

Even with your cheap tricks, there’s no way you can beat Sekamens.

You might as well apologize and leave now; maybe our leader will forgive you then.”

“I admit, I’m not his opponent right now, so initially, I had no intention of winning.

My goal was to gain his recognition.” Yang Yu didn’t argue but instead looked at Sekamens, “Those goblins, you could have taken care of them alone in five minutes, right?

If I can last more than five minutes against you without losing any blood, doesn’t that prove I’m as strong as those goblins?”

“Three minutes.

If you withstand my attacks for three minutes, I’ll recognize you.”

The confidence on Sekamens’ face didn’t fade.

He looked at Bai Jin with concern; even though this girl with the indistinct face emitted a dangerous aura, he treated her no different—a warmth like central heating.

“Miss, please go over there and rest for a bit.

Rococo, heal this gentleman.”

The violet-haired girl called Rococo nodded slightly and began chanting a Spell.

Soft light enveloped Yang Yu.

His fatigue was swept away, and his red Blood Bar slowly rose back up to a healthy green.

“Thank you.”

Facing Yang Yu’s gratitude, Rococo whispered softly, “You’re welcome,” before retreating back into the team.

What a splendid Priest, pure as the Holy Lotus, her presence alone changes the entire atmosphere of the team.

Yang Yu suddenly had the desire to poach her for his own team, but he had never indulged in the mischief of deliberately breaking up teams.

Despite his flaws, Yang Yu had to admit that Sekamens was a decent team leader.

With his handsome appearance, it would be easy to form a team full of girls, yet he hadn’t done so.

Having a balanced team with strength, damage, and healing, he truly had the knack for it.

If he hadn’t underestimated my strength and stolen my kills, perhaps I could’ve been the one they relied on to conquer the deeper bosses in the forest.

Regretfully, Yang Yu stretched his body, standing casually and allocated 12 free attribute points to Speed, just surpassing 60, with the rest added to Endurance.

No matter how he distributed his points, Yang Yu’s level 13 stats were far from matching up to Sekamens.

He estimated that just one of Sekamens’s powerful Skills could leave him bloodied, but he was fearless.

“Feels good.

Let’s start!”

Sekamens, wielding his Long Spear, stood face to face with Yang Yu.

“Iron Wall, you be the judge, and keep track of the time.”

“No problem.”

Iron Wall Uncle patted his chest in agreement, organizing those uninvolved to withdraw, making space for the duelists, and ensuring there were no disturbances.

He then raised his right hand above his head and swung it down sharply.

“Begin!”

His resonant voice echoed through the woods.

Sekamens took the initiative, with a flicker of cold light reaching out first, followed by the thrust of the spear, graceful and dragon-like.

In contrast, Yang Yu stood still, completely unconcerned by Sekamens’s Attack.

Bai Jin’s hand, gripping her Magic Wand, began to sweat.

At the outset, she had been torn about whether to warn Yang Yu that Sekamens was not someone to be trifled with lightly.

If the contest were forced, the one getting hurt would surely be him.

But then, remembering that her former teammates had ignored her advice, she swallowed her words.

Now, seeing Yang Yu remain immobile, not appearing to be capable of dodging, Bai Jin felt full of regret and, unable to bear it, averted her gaze, considering how to plead with Sekamens to heal Yang Yu after the duel, given that she, as a Curse Mage, could not use Healing Magic.

“Watch closely!

See just how reliable I am!”

Yang Yu shouted, forcefully drawing Bai Jin’s gaze back to the duel.

Just when everyone thought Yang Yu couldn’t dodge or block Sekamens’s Attack, he moved.

He squatted down and tilted his head to the right, narrowly avoiding Sekamens’s thrust.

“What?”

Before Sekamens could react, Yang Yu swung his Shield against Sekamens’s abdomen.

The clang of metal was harsh to the ear.

As Sekamens’s body lurched forward from the force, Yang Yu’s right hand, concealed at his waist, flicked forward, with the index and middle fingers aimed at Sekamens’s unprotected and handsome blue eyes.

Sekamens instinctively closed his eyes, completely unaware that Yang Yu had slowed his finger jab and instead grabbed his Long Spear, pulling it forward, and stripping away his beloved weapon.