Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 509 - 509 240 Triumph_2

509: Chapter 240 Triumph_2 509: Chapter 240 Triumph_2 “How could this be?!

Your hand…

how did it…?”

Faced with the sorrow clouding the young maiden’s face and her rare display of vulnerability, Leon lowered his head and silenced her words with a kiss.

He had purposefully avoided informing anyone about his injuries, afraid it would cause her needless worry.

It wasn’t until their indulgent, seemingly endless kiss — heedless of the onlookers around — ended, that he smiled to comfort the teary-eyed little lioness before him.

“It can be reattached.

With my magic mentor here, what is there to fear?”

At these words…

Olivia’s heartache eased, if only slightly.

“Then…

are there any other injuries?

Are they serious?

Did I unintentionally hurt you earlier?”

The girl was too worried to feel embarrassed by the public kiss.

She reached out cautiously, her gentle hands brushing against him as though afraid of touching any wounds hidden beneath his clothing, berating herself for her earlier emotional embrace.

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing major.

A bit of rest, and I’ll be fine.” Despite the fact that not a single rib under his chest was intact, Leon decided to put on a brave front in her presence.

At this moment, he turned his head toward the approaching crowd, only to realize it wasn’t only Olivia – Cowis and Larian had also arrived.

“When did you return?

Was your journey smooth?” Leon asked in surprise.

“As smooth as could be, my lord.

We returned to Avalon five days ago,” Larian replied with a bow.

Cowis glanced worriedly at Leon’s left arm before reporting, “Mission accomplished, my lord.

Ranger Knights from the surrounding regions have responded to Lord Larian’s summons and arrived in Avalon.

We have directly contacted over twenty rangers, some of whom are still on their way here from the Holy Court Kingdom.

However, the rangers know their own comrades.

Through mutual introductions, including their potential attendants, the actual number might be far beyond the twenty-something we’ve met.”

“Let them come; Avalon can accommodate them all.

The more, the better.

Let’s head back while we talk.” Leon nodded.

After leaving the troops to be handled by Lokhak, Leon and the others entered the city.

“Olivia, how is Uncle Brian progressing with the recruitment of new soldiers at the Selva Camp?” he asked, glancing at the girl walking beside him.

“My father has already recruited enough qualified soldiers, but the issue of warhorses remains.

Lady Martha still hasn’t managed to find a merchant offering suitable prices,” Olivia replied.

“No need to worry about horses.

This time, we seized a large number of warhorses from the Urians – a total of three hundred.

Now, our bigger concern is how to quickly plan out a field large enough to house them all.”

As Leon spoke, he looked toward Azeryan.

“Tomorrow, take Lord Eriv’s letter of introduction and coordinate with the family garrison in the fortress to arrange a redeployment schedule.

We need to vacate the barracks as soon as possible for our troops.”

After the expansion, the Selva Camp was evidently no longer sufficient to accommodate so many warriors.

At present, Leon’s forces were strong enough to hold their ground.

With the connection to Lydwen established, as long as Olivia’s identity remained a secret, their affiliation with the King’s faction meant the Gunnar Family in the West posed little threat.

What’s more, with Canis as a hostage, Baron Grey Wolf had sent numerous messengers to inquire after his son while Leon had simply stalled, claiming Canis was recovering in Avalon.

With this “hostage” in hand, it was unlikely the Gunnar Family would recklessly provoke him for at least the next two years.

Given these factors, there was no longer a need to rely on the Farolis family’s army to guard Avalon Castle.

Even without having to pay their wages, supporting several hundred soldiers was still a significant burden.

By now, Leon’s knights and soldiers were more than capable of taking over their duties.

Once the barracks and fortresses within Avalon were vacated, there would be no need to spend additional funds building new, permanent military camps.

Upon returning to the main castle and dismissing everyone to rest, Leon turned to Larian: “Are the rangers who came to our aid still in Avalon?

They traveled such a long way; I’d like to host a banquet to personally express my gratitude.”

Beside him, Olivia raised her brows anxiously, her lips parting as if to speak, then hesitating.

Larian noticed the worried expression on the knightly young lady’s face – a look he had often seen on Magrina in the past.

Glancing at Leon’s injured left shoulder, he shook his head.

“My lord, you are injured and have traveled far.

For today, it would be wise to rest.

Besides, Miss Olivia and Lord Cowis have already received the knights on your behalf.

I believe they will understand your current inconvenience.”

“…” Olivia seized the opportunity and tugged on Leon’s right hand, blinking at him meaningfully.

Leon tilted his head and followed her gaze toward the Mage Tower, suddenly realizing her concern.

She was silently urging him to seek treatment for his severed arm without delay.

Indeed… losing an arm was a serious injury, no mere scratch in the eyes of others.

Even Master Hillgarde had advised him to go to the northern fortress academy for proper recovery and seek a magician specializing in this craft to attempt reattaching the limb.

Yet Leon knew that his little mentor, as an Ancient Pope with boundless power, possessed means far beyond ordinary comprehension, which perhaps explained his own nonchalance.

“All right, I’ll trouble you to convey my gratitude to them.

Once I’ve recovered, I’ll host a feast for the rangers.” Despite his eagerness to meet the wandering warriors, Leon did not insist further.

After Larian left, Leon had Cowis bring the severed arm, then pulled Olivia along toward the Mage Tower.

It had been a long time since he’d last seen Lola, and Leon found himself missing her dearly.

Who knew how things might have turned out during his battle against Count Arsene if that little lady had been by his side?

Hopefully, when Lola learned how close he had come to death fulfilling their pact, her anger wouldn’t lead to her pinching his face.

Her grip was even stronger than Olivia’s — it wasn’t something to take lightly.

Bringing Olivia and Acro along was a calculated choice; with them present, Lola might be inclined to show him some leniency.

Even so, Leon silently relished the sense of having safeguarded against the worst-case scenario.

Even if he had perished at Count Arsene’s hands, as long as his comrades managed to procure Moonfall Silver from the King and the materials Ines promised to send, they could entrust them to Lola to create a new Netti Card.

Perhaps his little mentor could summon him back from the Dead Sea.

A Griffin Knight of Avalon.

The Snake Slayer who wounded the Dragon Slayer.

He was no longer an obscure figure.

Though not yet called a hero, he was at least a man gaining a measure of renown.

The only regret, perhaps, was that if he became a Card Spirit, he would no longer be able to create the crystallization of love with Olivia.

His gaze drifted toward the worried maiden, and a flood of thoughts washed over him.

…Marriage.

Marriage.

Marriage.

Marriage…

Like a small animal faced with the looming threat of death, his instincts surged with a desperate desire to secure his legacy of love.

His yearning for the one he loved deepened further.

“…Who hurt you this badly?

Even Big Claw was covered in wounds, with its wings broken,” Olivia murmured anxiously, unable to perceive the desire flooding Leon’s mind.

Her eyes remained fixed on the box containing his severed arm in Cowis’ hands.

She couldn’t bring herself to touch that box, finding even the briefest glance at it unbearable, blaming herself for not being by his side to fight in the face of such danger.

“A Great Knight from Kantadar.

We dueled face-to-face.

I was outmatched and defeated fair and square.

Luckily, Baron Kellan arrived in time and saved me from a worse fate.

I’ll tell you the details later…

though, in a way, I benefited from the misfortune,” Leon suddenly said with a smile, shifting the tone of the conversation.

“Benefited from misfortune?” Olivia asked, puzzled.

“Once my injuries heal, let’s duel in the arena.

‘Mr.

Leon’ is no longer the same man as before.” He raised his brows mysteriously.