Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 176 - 176 100 Wheel Battle_3

176: Chapter 100 Wheel Battle_3 176: Chapter 100 Wheel Battle_3 “If you feel dizzy afterwards, go find my attendant for help,” Leon nodded.

“He knows some ‘Medical Skill’ and can treat minor injuries.”

Even though he had held back his strength, he didn’t want to risk leaving the veteran who knew some basic combat techniques injured, just to be safe.

Even if he didn’t reach the standard of the Guards he wanted, this man’s skills were certainly enough to serve as a captain among ordinary Soldiers.

The spectators exchanged glances, especially the villagers from Platon.

Because the middle-aged man who had been defeated was actually their leader during their military conscription among the villagers.

However, his defeat wasn’t entirely unexpected by those present.

After witnessing how the young Young Knight had swiftly overthrown the first challenger, the young and strong men from the three territories understood.

Why the seemingly simple selection criteria came with such generous and high rewards.

This youthful-faced Young Lord was a true Knight of Valor with genuine Martial Arts.

Now, the previously eager Conscripted Soldiers began to lose their enthusiasm to step forward and try their luck.

Most of them had given up the thought of taking the stage to challenge at this point.

Out of the hundred or so, aside from a few village heroes still contemplating taking a chance to turn their fate around, many were just tenant farmers temporarily trained in the fortress, at most capable of lining up and throwing a few common fight moves.

They could handle fighting alongside their villager comrades in formation, but dueling with a real Knight Master…

the old farmers didn’t feel they had lost their senses in waking early and sleeping late.

“If you don’t have the courage to challenge me, then remove your Armor and step down for someone else!” Leon frowned and commanded as he looked at the hesitant candidates.

He knew the effect of the Boiling Heart couldn’t last indefinitely; the Magic Element within him was constantly being consumed.

Though Kovis had already restored his Magic Power in preparation for today’s recovery, ready to replenish his Life Force at any moment, Leon still wanted to end today’s selection battles within a single cycle if possible.

Looking at the candidates who had been intimidated into hesitation by his martial force, Leon wasted no more time, he casually pointed to a tall man, “It’s you, step forward, or strip your armor and return to the ranks.”

The pointed-out candidate, originally intending to wait like the others for the Knight Master to deplete his strength, had no choice but to accept his bad luck.

After all, having come this far, he couldn’t waste the opportunity to bet on a chance to change his fate.

Drawing on the experiences of the previous two men, he too chose a sword and shield; at the very least, the Shield should help him hold out for a while…

As he walked to the center of the field and saw the helmeted Young Knight charging at him, he concentrated, raised his Shield, and retreated a few steps in an attempt to turtle up and block.

However, his completely passive and negative defensive stance only lasted three strikes before Leon’s blade pried it open at a very tricky angle, and his futile counterattack with the one-handed sword was knocked from his grip…

Even in this round, the son of the veteran who had braced himself for the challenge couldn’t withstand Leon’s fourth sword strike.

…

And so, one by one, candidates came onto the stage, and one by one, they were defeated amidst the jeering of the crowd.

But soon, what had started as a test of selecting Guards, gradually became in the eyes of the spectators a marvellously exciting martial festival.

New challengers kept taking up the Armor and weapons of the defeated, stepping forward with their respective skills to face Leon’s test.

To the villagers, this kind of thrilling round-robin duel, with one person defending against an unlimited number of challengers, was indeed a rare sight.

As they watched the duels, many of the youth grew increasingly excited without realizing it.

Watching Leon continuously swing his sword, cleanly defeating each approaching challenger, the sporadic sounds of spear butts knocking on the ground from the merely spectating crowd started to merge into a rhythm.

Like a tacit agreement among the crowd of over a hundred people, whenever a new challenger took the stage to face Leon, they would all spontaneously celebrate and cheer, their stomping creating a thunderous roar.

Starting from the tenth challenger’s defeat, someone took the lead, and upon seeing the Lord coldly defeating another, the young men began to chant Leon’s name, as if cheering for the champion of a festival’s arena competition.

…

Leon!

…

Leon!…

Leon!!

…

Leon!

….

Hearing the increasingly loud calls resonating through the skies of Selva, Leon, hidden beneath his helmet with heat and sweat on his face, showed a hint of embarrassment.

After all, this acclaim was not won by a fair fight.

To personally select the Guards, the heightened reflexes and extraordinary physical capabilities he possessed were not entirely his own.

So, faced with the crowd’s amazement and admiration, he felt undeserving.

Moreover…

Leon looked back and saw his comrades standing in front of the soldiers, cheering with raised arms, which made him feel embarrassed.

Others didn’t know he “cheated” using magic.

What are you guys who know everything cheering about?

He sullenly discovered that even Olivia was smiling, with a hand raised to her mouth, joining in the shouting with her clear and pleasant girlish voice, cheering for him amid the cries of the burly men.

Leon wanted to bury himself even more in a hole, not knowing what antics this girl, who beats him up in the backyard every day, was up to here.

Was this like a public execution?

But…

such a reaction from the crowd was a good thing.

After today, he had certainly established enough prestige in the hearts of these local conscripted soldiers.

How could he make the soldiers trust him the fastest?

Granting favors was one way.

But flipping all the subordinates with brute force was also a straightforward and quick method.

The series of duels proceeded as expected, in an orderly fashion…

…until the eighteenth challenger, when finally a robust man barely managed to block Leon’s fifth attack with great difficulty—

The silently counting crowd burst into cheers at that moment, as they finally saw someone who withstood the Knight Master’s test!

Then the man, tensely holding his sword and shield, heard the young voice of the Lord through the helmet.

“…Put down your shield, you’ve passed.

No need to take off your armor either; from today on, it belongs to you.”

Leon stepped back a few paces, looking with approval at the first warrior to pass the test through his helmet, “What’s your name?”

Receiving personal acknowledgment from the Knight Master, the man’s near-breaking nerves finally relaxed.

He excitedly laid down his weapons and immediately knelt on one knee, removing his helmet and tucking it under his arm, his forehead slick with cold sweat as his voice trembled:

“My name is Zabron, my Lord.”

“I remember you came from Longka’s ranks.

Have you done anything in the army before?” Leon asked curiously.

“Yes, my Lord.

I am a hunter from Longka, but I’ve only served as an archer in Lord Eriv’s army,” Zabron replied, unable to hide his joy.

Leon nodded with sudden understanding.

Hunter, skilled archer…

No wonder he was tall and good in reflexes and exerting force.

“From today on, you are my first Guard.

You may step back now.”

Having said that, Leon raised his sword again, pointing to the next candidate.

However, looking at the eager young men of the territory rubbing their hands together, ready to step forward for a few moves, Leon couldn’t help feeling resigned.

What he had said earlier about everyone having a fair chance, truly, was like asking for trouble.

Perhaps after watching many intense fights in a row, their morale had shifted from initial despair of passing the test to being “high-spirited” again.

Many, seeing the challengers knocked over by the Lord’s Blunt Sword while wearing armor barely injured, couldn’t help but line up eagerly to take on the challenge.

Their aim was no longer to pass the test, but to join in the bustle, as if taking the selection as a festival.

But seeing the fervor of these young men, Leon had no choice but silently to bear with it.

It would be really inappropriate to change his tune now and sift out those with obviously poor skills, breaking the “battling” atmosphere he had with the Subjects.

Forget it…

Leon shook his head.

After all, for him…

wielding a sword and fighting, was a kind of pleasure belonging to men…

erm?

Remembering Olivia also deeply enjoyed this, he corrected himself…

belonging to Martial Artists.