On the outskirts of Slom City, a fierce confrontation is taking place in the Hayes Manor.

In late autumn, the garden was full of golden leaves, and the blunt iron swords were constantly colliding and slashing in mid-air, making a crisp metallic hum, but the birds in the garden were not at all afraid of the sound, and chirped on the branches.

"Mr. Garcia, is that all you have to do?"

Deborah Hayes' personal bodyguard, Lucius, wielded Audrick's sword, his pale grey eyes reflecting a panting Cezel.

Cizer wore a rustic but finely cut white cloth shirt, covered in mud and dust, with long brown hair tied back and light yellow pupils full of unwillingness and exhaustion.

"I can fight again!"

He lunged at Lucius with his sword in hand, raising it above his head, his feet off the ground, and slashing it in the air.

Lucius swung his sword diagonally at the tip of Cezel's sword and jumped back half a step, and when Cezel hit the ground, Lucius jumped forward again, picked off Cezel's blade with a sword, and then slammed Cezel into Cezel's chest with the hilt.

Cizer fell again.

"Your eyes are fierce and dangerous." Lucius leaned his sword and looked down at Cezel, "But this is not a knight's eye. ”

Although he has won many victories, he does not have a trace of smugness, and just teaches with a blank face.

Cizer lay on his back on the fallen leaves, his chest heaving violently, and then stood up again.

Lucius watched Cezel take his stance again, then picked up his sword and meticulously made a gesture of battle.

"In your mind, what is a knight?"

The swords began to collide violently again.

"I don't know."

Lucius turned, his feet dancing like a round dance, and the blade flipped and slashed down, knocking Cezel to the ground again.

"Then I'll change the question." He stared at Cizer, "What do you want to be?" ”

Cizer tried to stand up with his sword in both hands, but slipped and fell to the ground, gasping for breath.

"I ......"

He remembered his father's disdainful face, the contemptuous gaze of the people, and the bloody back of his own.

"I want to be loved and respected, I want to be valuable, and I want to stand in an equal world." Cizer muttered.

Lucius said noncommittally: "I see, you want to be a hero. ”

"Heroes?" Cizer was stunned, "Heroes are glorious ......"

"Stand up, Mr. Garcia." "I don't know how to be a hero, but I know how to be a knight." ”

Cizer gritted his teeth and stood up from the ground, took a deep breath, and clenched the sword in his hand again.

"Your father was a knight, so you got the basics of training, but combat skills are important, but what I want you to think about is another matter."

Lucius pointed his sword at Cezel's face and said, "Who is your sword used to protect and to attack?" Answer me, knight. ”

Cezel gripped his sword, and with a roar of rage, he lunged at Lucius, and the sword stabbed out—

"My sword is for the protection of my beloved!"

"Protect the morality in your heart!"

"Guardian of the oath!"

Swords clashed, and Cizer's onslaught was like a storm.

"My sword is used against the wicked!"

"Attack the despicable!"

"Offensive shamelessness and lies!"

He slashed at Lucius with all his strength, his body floating like a feather.

Lucius remained expressionless, holding his sword to his chest with both hands, the tip of the sword facing the sky, impartial.

"Bang dang."

Lucius's sword broke, and half of it flew out and stuck it in the paulownia tree in the garden.

Cezel's sword came out of his hand and fell into a pool of water not far away, making a splash.

Although he lost again, Cizer was not discouraged, he took a big breath, turned quickly, looked at Lucius with some excitement, and asked, "Am I right, Mr. Lucius?" ”

Is this the way of chivalry? That's his subtext.

Lucius silently looked at the half-cut sword in his hand, and looked at it for a few seconds before putting the sword down, he still maintained an old-fashioned expression, and his eyes were as calm as water.

"The answer belongs to you, and you can only confirm it yourself."

"You wicked, vile, shameless, lie-telling fellow!"

Nephitali stood in front of Levi, clutching her dagger, eager to poke a hole in the emaciated man in front of her.

But she couldn't stab the dagger out of her hand, as if a pair of invisible but powerful hands had grabbed her wrists, and a voice in her head was preventing her from rebellious thoughts.

Feeble and frustrated to drop the dagger, Nefitali gritted her teeth and said, "Why ......"

"Because you've given your soul, it's the only thing I've taken." Levi picked up an apple, wiped it with his sleeve, and stuffed it into his mouth.

He looked at Nephitali not like he was watching his own slave at all, but like watching a play.

"Why? I've never seen such a disordered, powerful contract, how can it be judged to be valid? You even misspelled my name! ”

"As long as the key parts are correct, names and oaths are trivial things." Levi nibbled on an apple and walked to the second floor.

Looking at Levi's back, Nephitali wanted to take the opportunity to stab him, or turn around and flee from here, but her feet followed Levi uncontrollably, as if her heart would be flustered once the man left her sight.

Damn it! Am I a dog?

Nephitali thought desperately.

Levi went to the window on the second floor, pushed the window halfway open, and looked at the wide Canglan River, the river was rushing through, and a cold wind hit the water.

Nephitali stood a meter behind him, as honest as a little girl looking at her father.

"Since you can't betray me anymore, it doesn't hurt to tell you something." Levi took a bite of the apple and said without looking back, "You should be honored that I have never told anyone about these things." ”

Nephitali is experiencing the power of action as a "pet" and discovers that she is not 100% conditioned. For example, it seemed okay to talk now, but she was pretty sure she wouldn't even be able to sneeze once Levi told her to shut up.

In case this man ...... What should I do if I want to strip naked and dance?

"Don't you wonder why the contract is so powerful?" Levi chewed the flesh in his mouth and said slurredly.

"Because of the 'King's Contract'? But I don't understand what you mean. Nifertali said with some confusion that her emotions were very complex at this time, both angry and scared, curious and desperate, and at the same time affected by the contract, and her subjective consciousness was forcibly changed.

It occurred to her that when she made the contract, the piece of paper in front of her had this name written on it: Levi Hammurabi.

"How is that possible? You clearly said your name was Levi David......" Nephitali seemed to figure out some key parts, "Could it be that your real identity is ......"

"I am Prince Chamel." Levi admitted.

When he said this, his heart seemed to suddenly relax, as if he had spit out a long-sealed secret. He had been dreaming that he had died suddenly in the midst of an unpredictable maelstrom of fate, but no one knew his name, and that the tombstone was engraved with that false and fabricated symbol, and even death could not put him to sleep.

Today, a second person finally knows his name.

"Tracing back to the source, we all have the blood of the Shadow Country, but I am a royal family, and you are a commoner." Levi explained, "At the same time, as a descendant of Saladin, I can naturally suppress you in blood and force this contract...... Unfortunately, there are limited places and I can't do this to all people of the same origin. ”

Nephitari looked at Levi's side face in disbelief, his slightly dark skin, elongated eyes, and shiny black pupils...... The Chamel royal family, he is really the Chamelian royal family.

"The royal family of Emerald Silk was clearly burned in the fire of unprovoked calamity...... How could you possibly still be alive? Nephitali muttered.

"Somebody will survive." Levi leaned against the window, holding his chin with his hand, "It's just that I happened to be the one who survived." ”

"Wait...... I don't understand yet, you just said that I have the blood of the Shadow Country? Nefertali was dizzy from the sheer amount of information, "Actually, I don't understand it at all...... Neither you nor me, neither the Chamel royal nor the desert tribes, I cannot connect with the Shadow Country. ”

After all, she is just a princess of a declining clan, living in a remote and barren desert, even if her brain is very bright, but her knowledge is limited after all.

"Don't you know? Well...... This has something to do with history. Levi was a little surprised, he said slowly, "The Shadow Country is an ancient dynasty that withdrew from the stage of history in the midst of natural changes, and after the loss of Eze, most of its descendants moved to the secluded forest, and a small number went into exile in the Blighted Wasteland, the latter is your ancestor, the former...... When it comes to Saladin's family affairs, it's a bit complicated, and I don't know it completely, anyway, that's how the genealogy is written. ”

Nephitari had a hard time listening, but she understood what Levi meant...... Is this the difference between the noble and the lowly? Even a forced contract cannot be refused.

From now on, she will be the slave of the deceased prince, and do everything she can and everything he wishes for him...... She had heard in the brothels that the princes and nobles were fond of perverted things, and that the women who had become their playthings had gone mad in endless torment.

A hint of bitterness welled up in her heart, and Nephitali even began to think about self-destruction.

"You're smart, so I need you to help me do something, which may be dangerous and can't be betrayed, so I signed this contract to make sure nothing goes wrong." Levi turned around and looked Nephitali into the eye, "I won't let you wait too long, I just need you to serve me for three years, and after three years, I will give you back your freedom and give you a fortune." ”

Nephitali subconsciously replied, "But you don't have anything now, and the future you described to me is a picture of nothingness." ”

"Yes, but do you have any other choice?" Levi smiled, "I'll give you the first order worth remembering." ”

He walked up to Nefitali, his face so close to her that she could feel the other's snort, and she even subconsciously opened her lips, ready to welcome her master's presence.

"Clean up the yard and clean the room to maintain a tidy environment." Levi seemed to come up with this "memorable" order on the fly, "Then try not to go out, if you must go out to buy food, put on a cloak, and don't show your face." ”

Levi shoved a gold coin into her palm and said, "Our relationship is related to soul trading, so ...... From today onwards, your name will be Nervemor. ”

Dragging his tired body back to the streets of Baker, Levi's eyes were almost open, and his tense spirit urgently needed a good night's sleep to relieve his fatigue. Tomorrow he will have to go to the Academy's Mansion to find Alva and finish his work in the alchemy room.

According to Levi's initial plan, getting close to Archer Blaze would require her attention, and a devastating defeat would be the perfect fit, with Alva acting as the attacker.

As soon as he turned into the alley, Levi saw two familiar figures standing at the door of the building at 22 Baker Street, and looked at him at the same time.

"You're finally home, Levi." Alva said happily, "Look who I brought here?" ”

The corners of Levi's mouth twitched, and he smiled slightly, "Congratulations, Cezel, you have been loyal to a good master." ”

Dressed in the Hayes family's guard attire, Cizer looked very energetic, with a smile on his lips that could not be hidden.

"Thank you, Levi, if it weren't for you......"

"You're welcome." Levi said.

Alva put his arm around Levi's shoulders, ran his proud pretty blonde hair with his hand, and said with a smile, "Don't stand here talking, let's go have a drink!" I know a nice place. ”

Cizer smiled and nodded. Levi couldn't refuse, so he pulled himself together and smiled, "You're going to have a treat, Alva." ”

"No problem!" Alva said gleefully.

Seeing that the two of them were in good spirits, Levi was also happy from the bottom of his heart, and when he thought about it, eating, drinking and chatting with friends was also a rare relaxation.

The Stuart family's new horse-drawn carriage stopped in the street, and the three of them got into it and headed for a restaurant north of the city.

Alva's recommended restaurant is a two-story loft on the banks of the Canglan River, where people run a tailoring business during the day and set up tables and chairs to make a small restaurant at night, where you can enjoy some affordable and delicious dishes.

The three of them asked for a table on the open-air platform on the top floor, ordered a few dishes and a pot of coarse wine, and drank and had fun while watching the Canglan River at night.

"Cizer is a southerner, that's why I thought of this place." Alva was drunk, blushing and said, "This place is located at the northwestern junction of Slom, not far from Theatre Street, and many guests who watch evening performances come for supper, so it has some fame." ”

"It's delicious." Cizer was well fed and said in a good mood, "It is indeed the taste of home." ”

The dishes on the table include red painted mushroom soup, melon pie, dried pork with honey* sauce and a large pot of noodles topped with fresh chili sauce and minced meat, all of which are indeed home-cooked dishes in the south.

Levi was not used to cheap liquor, so he drank a little, mainly with mushroom soup and noodles. However, he was not too good at eating, and soon he was full.

"You know what, Levi? I thought you were really dead. Cizer was also a little drunk, "I didn't know until I went to find Alva today that you faked your death that night, how did you do that?" ”

"I used some knowledge of herbs, but I wasn't too sure." Levi said with a smile.

"I was almost scared to death by him, I didn't expect to meet him in the bachelor's mansion to cheat his corpse." Alva slapped the table, forgetting his usual aristocratic demeanor, raised his glass and said, "Drink!" ”

The three of them laughed and drank each other.

Looking at Cizer, Levi whispered, "Miss Hayes is a great nobleman, but she is also facing a crisis. For her, you are a very important subordinate who can become an Origin Warrior sooner or later. ”

Cizer nodded and said, "I don't know about her troubles, and I haven't been able to talk to her much, but I know that she is very good to me, and I will definitely reach Stanley's level as soon as possible and take the pressure on her." ”

Alva said: "Deborah Hayes is the daughter of the Earl, a socialite in the whole Slom circle, and she is still unmarried, I heard that she is thirty years old. ”

Levi listened to him, smiled, and took a sip of the soup to himself.

Cizer didn't understand what Alva meant, and asked, "Why isn't Miss Hayes married?" ”

"Arrogant or don't want to be tied down by a man? It doesn't matter! Alva squinted at Cizer and said, "I think she's beautiful, a little less feminine, but she's heroic...... Do you just want to be her knight? ”

Cizer understood this time, and he blushed and said, "This is not something I should think about, I am her knight, and I should not have any other thoughts than to protect her." ”

"Being her husband will protect her, and the Origin Warrior is worthy of her identity." Levi said with a smile.

Cezel shook his head repeatedly, and in order to hide his disturbed heart, he poured a large sip of wine, and his eyes were a little intoxicated.

He was silent for a moment, his expression suddenly a little gloomy, and said, "After that night, although there were not many opportunities, I did try to find Nefertali's whereabouts...... But I couldn't hear anything. ”

"Who's Nephitali?" Alva said somewhat incoherently, leaning back on the table and holding his chin with his hand, "The woman you like?" ”

Levi glanced at Alva and said to Cezel, "The woman you mentioned was a slave in Slom, and if she left the brothel and had no place to stay, and there was no way to survive in the capital, even in the whole of Audric. ”

Cezel's eyes were a little lost, his hand on the table was clenched into a fist, he lowered his head and said, "Did I hurt her?" I was the one who got her involved in Keef's affair......"

To be precise, it was Nifitari who involved Cezel in the dispute over the Blooddrinker, and her act of handing over the Blooddrink Shor to Cizer was the key to keeping her alive, no matter how you look at it, it was a cunning and clever move, but unfortunately Cizer didn't want to think in that direction.

Levi sighed and said seriously: "I hope she can overcome many obstacles and return to her hometown, which is the only place where she can be happy...... If she dies tragically, may her soul rest in peace. ”

Cizer glanced at Levi gratefully and wished, "May she be able to return to her hometown." ”

Levi vaguely felt that Cizer's feelings for Nifitari were a little special, and perhaps Nifitali was not the same as Cizer...... But it didn't make sense, she would be dead without Levi, so for Cezel, putting Nifertali to a close end would be the best outcome.

People will always easily have feelings, and that kind of feelings are also very fleeting, time, environment, and new lovers will soothe everything.

Let Cizer's Nifertali return to her homeland, which no longer exists.

"Cizer will become an Origin Warrior in the future, and I will also become a Magister to revive the glory of the Stewart family!" Alva swept away the gloomy atmosphere and the gloom left by the ogre, raised his glass and said, "Don't be depressed anymore, it's so good to welcome our future, isn't it?" ”

Okay, I'll help you.

Levi smiled and silently added in his heart.

No longer dwelling on Nephitali's affairs, the three of them raised their glasses and drank freely.

On the rooftops of Somewhere in Needlework Alley, Raymond Brown is staring with indifference at the three people who are drinking and having fun: Cizer, Alva, and Levi.

He is like a very patient hunter, peeping in the dark, thinking in his heart, preparing behind his back...... He needed a path of revenge that wouldn't lead to his own destruction, killing Alva and Cezel, and making their corpses his stepping stones.

And that Levi David...... I don't know if he was involved, and if he was, then he would die too.

Drink and have fun, and enjoy tonight, tomorrow, and the few days you have left.

It was the last calm before the blizzard.

("In the early days of the Slom Rebellion, and for a long time afterward, we knew nothing about the identity of [Nevenmor]. —General History of the Continent • The Dark Dynasty)

("Nevenmor is one of the Demon Kings of Hell, a collector of souls, a vile and cunning deceiver, a wriggling shadow, and a ruthless destroyer.") —The Sinner and the Sage)