Barlow scoffed at the Blue - Heart Knight''s words.
Among extraordinary ranks, save for mages, the levels of other occupations are determined by sheer strength. If the Blue - Heart Knight could match a fourth - level mage, he would be a fourth - level knight.
Given that the medal on his person clearly designates him as a third - level knight, he decidedly lacks the power to contend with a fourth - level extraordinary being; the notion of cross - level combat is simply inapplicable here.
"I couldn''t care less if you''re boasting. Look over there. That youth dressed in plain attire. Doesn''t he strike you as familiar?"
Barlow turned towards Glen''s direction, gesturing for the knight to look.
The latter instinctively glanced over. After observing for a while, he indeed felt a sense of familiarity and, in confusion, remarked, "I feel as though I''ve seen him somewhere, yet I can''t quite recall."
"Who were we discussing just now?"
"Chenosalk? Wait a moment!"
The Blue - Heart Knight abruptly sat upright. "This youth bears a resemblance to that half - succubus!"
"Your obtuseness is truly remarkable," Barlow retorted, vexed.
"Is he also Chenosalk''s offspring?" the knight inquired directly.
"Uncertain. I just probed him but detected no anomalies. I also inquired about his background, and it appears unremarkable. After this ball concludes, I''ll send word to some acquaintances to assist in investigating," Barlow stated, taking a sip of fruit wine.
"I''m fairly certain he is. After all, that repulsive fellow has a penchant for siring offspring far and wide," the knight declared with some conviction.
"Don''t be so hasty to conclude. Perhaps it''s merely a coincidence," Barlow said, displaying great rationality.
"He seems to have an amicable relationship with Miss Pernas. We ought to inform Lady Aniya," the knight said, rising to his feet.
"I''ll accompany you," Barlow also stood up.
Consequently, Lady Aniya, who was presiding over the ball, was perplexed when the two summoned her, claiming it was a matter of great import.
"What precisely is the matter? What could render you two so solemn?" Lady Aniya immediately queried upon entering an unoccupied chamber.
Barlow stepped forward, composed his thoughts briefly, and then recounted his speculations.
Anticipating a look of horror on Lady Aniya''s countenance, Barlow was surprised to find the noblewoman before him remarkably composed.
"Lady Aniya, are you not concerned? After all, your daughter seems to be on good terms with him..." Barlow said, his tone tinged with a note of caution.
However, Lady Aniya merely sighed. "You needn''t trouble yourselves. He cannot be Chenosalk''s offspring."
The two opposite her were immediately taken aback.
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The Blue - Heart Knight hastily asked, "Why are you so certain? Do you know something?"
"This is his personal affair. I respect his privacy, so I won''t disclose it. I advise you not to look into it either. It would be impolite."
In truth, Lady Aniya had no knowledge of whether Glen was Chenosalk''s offspring, but she was aware that Glen was a formidable individual. If he harbored ill intentions towards her and her daughter, they would not have survived until now.
She deemed it best to maintain the status quo. She would refrain from taking unnecessary actions and hoped others would do the same, lest they incur Glen''s wrath.
Barlow had, in fact, discerned Lady Aniya''s unease, but since she had spoken thus, he refrained from further argument. He merely said, "Very well. It seems we over - thought the matter. Let''s return and continue enjoying the ball."
The Blue - Heart Knight beside him was about to interject, but Barlow promptly pulled him away.
What they failed to realize was that there was an eavesdropper.
Before the individuals emerged, Glen''s figure had stealthily darted to the corner.
Only after everyone had departed did he step out, his face etched with bewilderment.
Moments ago, he had noticed Lady Aniya, Barlow, and a strange blue - skinned youth leave and surmised they were going to discuss him.
Eager to know why the elder had sought him out, Glen had come to eavesdrop under the pretext of needing to attend to personal matters.
He had not expected to obtain such a baffling piece of information.
I... No, the original owner resembles a fellow named Chenosalk? They actually suspect the original owner is that man''s descendant? Could it be that the original owner''s father was cuckolded? But judging from the original owner''s memories, this visage bears a resemblance to the original owner''s father as well as to several of his siblings. Moreover, the original owner''s father is a portly version of his sons, far from being handsome...
In the end, Glen deduced three highly probable scenarios.
One possibility was that the original owner''s father was still alive and had been impersonated by someone named Chenosalk all along.
Another was that Chenosalk was a relative of the original owner, which would increase the likelihood of a similar appearance.
The final possibility was that this was merely a coincidence, a simple case of the two individuals sharing some facial similarities.
"However, there are few coincidences in this world," Glen murmured to himself with a touch of resignation before returning to the ball via another passage.
...
The Abyssal Rift.
It was the same location where the dragon and the demon once again encountered each other.
"So, you''ve located the Blazing Fang? Have you laid eyes on that werewolf? Describe his appearance to me. We demons will accord him a most ''cordial'' welcome!" the diminutive demon hissed with the utmost malevolence.
"I''ve merely ascertained the whereabouts of the Blazing Fang. I dare not confront that werewolf. Moreover, even if I were unafraid of the werewolf, I would not dare enter that place," the red dragon, its neck adorned with coiling green patterns, rumbled in a deep voice.
"What place could instill such fear in you now? Do tell," the demon said, its tone laced with curiosity.
"In fact, it''s a forest to the west of the area you invaded last time. From a distance, it may seem unremarkable, but upon approaching, an overwhelmingly terrifying aura emanates from it, as if some supreme entity lurks within!"
The dragon strove to convey the gravity of the situation, but the demon below felt its heart sink to the depths.
The most dreaded scenario had come to pass.
Prior to the invasion, the various demon lords had thoroughly scouted the entire target region.
A place called Bayek had been the subject of particular discussion.
From the memories of some high - ranking human nobles who had been transformed, they learned that the kingdom held this place in profound awe. Even the entire kingdom''s top - tier combat forces dared not set foot in that town.
To this end, they awakened a knowledgeable ancient demon, from whom they learned that.
The town of Bayek was home to a group of madmen who even gave the gods cause for concern. They were not to be trifled with lightly.
This was the reason why the demon leader in charge of the invasion, upon learning that some lower - level demons on one side had been driven back in fear, had resolutely chosen to avoid that area.
The seventh - level werewolf might be a monster mutated or created by one of the madmen in the town. Now, the question remained: should they attempt to retrieve the Blazing Fang? …
The demon lapsed into deep thought.
Perhaps they should simply choose another target... It cast a glance at the red dragon, which was still expounding at length.
However, it soon heard a name that sent shockwaves through it and hastily interrupted, "Wait! Who did you just mention? The Demon Dragon Atokanstein!?"