Chapter 86: Return of the Doom-Class Death Knight

Chapter 86: Secret Outing (2)

"I will follow your command, Your Highness!"

Sir James John shouted loudly, looking very reliable.

In contrast, Damian had a tired expression. He was already busy to the point of exhaustion just from teaching the prince. He didn't want to cause any unnecessary conflict.

"My name is Damian Hassen, and I am in charge of the prince's swordsmanship training. I have no intention of harming the prince, so please step aside."

"No! You're lying! Don't be fooled! How can a thug like him be a swordsmanship instructor!"

Oliver Apple shouted hysterically. Damian briefly spoke to the prince.

"Your Highness, I will extend it to three hours."

The prince's eyes widened in surprise.

"Damian Hassen?"

When Damian revealed his name, James John's eyes lit up.

"Surely you're not the famous Damian Hassen I've only heard about?"

"Probably."

"Haha, it's an honor to meet a famous person I've only heard about. I was already very curious about your true nature!"

At this, Damian could only sigh.

"Hey, why don't you just sit down and have a drink?"

Damian patted James John on the shoulder. This action made James John's face stiffen.

"Don't touch me so casually..."

James John grabbed Damian's wrist. But something was strange.

No matter how much force he applied, Damian's hand wouldn't budge from his shoulder.

"Sit down."

Damian applied force to his hand. James John involuntarily sat back down in the chair.

"You, you bastard...!"

James John tried to stand up. But he couldn't push away Damian's hand pressing on his shoulder.

"Ugh, ugh!"

James John exerted all his strength. His eyes turned red. Still, his body didn't move an inch.

'He's gotten stronger.'

Damian thought as he looked down at James John, who was in pain.

Knights were originally much stronger than ordinary humans, due to the magic power in their bodies enhancing their physical strength.

By the time they reached the middle class, they could kill fierce beasts with their bare hands without using magic.

Damian was overpowering a middle-class knight with sheer strength alone, thanks to Alekto's Royal Jelly.

Realizing this, James John's face showed a sense of defeat, understanding the gap between them.

"Sir James John! Hang in there!"

"Knock that guy out in one go!"

However, the nobles who belonged to 'Real Men' didn't notice James John's true feelings and began to cheer him on.

In fact, they couldn't help it.

Who was James John? He was a well-recognized figure among the middle-class knights in the capital.

From their perspective, James John had to appear stronger than Damian, who had just reached the middle class.

"Damn it!"

James John couldn't shake off the expectations of his companions. He had to show something, at least for his pride.

James John summoned his magic power. His body was brimming with dragon power.

Even though Damian's strength had increased, it was impossible for him to be stronger than a middle-class knight who could control magic power.

James John suddenly stood up and immediately threw a punch at Damian.

"I'll completely smash your face!"

Damian easily dodged the punch and then hit James John in the stomach.

"Kuh!"

James John's body was instantly pushed against the wall. The impact made him fall forward.

"Ugh, ugh."

James John spat out foam from his mouth. His eyes were already glazed over, indicating he had fainted.

"If you don't want to end up like him, clear out of the room, will you?"

Damian pointed at James John. The 'Real Men' members hurriedly tried to escape.

"We should take him with us."

At Damian's words, a few members came back to carry James John out.

This left Damian and Oliver Apple alone in the VIP room.

"Your Highness, shall we have a serious talk now?"

With the last line of defense, James John, defeated, Oliver Apple's face turned pale.

* * *

Damian sat in an empty chair.

"Your Highness, please sit down."

At Damian's words, Oliver Apple hesitantly sat down a bit away.

"So, what exactly is this gathering?"

"It's... 'Real Men'... the nobles of the capital gather periodically... to share friendship... that kind of thing."

"Despite its name, it's a gathering of cowards."

At Damian's words, Oliver Apple flared up.

"Don't insult my friends, even if you can insult me!"

"Is there anyone else among them who tried to protect you besides James John?"

At Damian's words, Oliver Apple shut his mouth.

Upon reflection, that was true. Despite always claiming loyalty, only one person among them tried to stop Damian.

"Who arranged this place?"

"The tavern owner provided it... the owner also set the meeting time... when good alcohol and women are prepared, the owner sends a notification..."

After hearing the whole story, Damian clicked his tongue.

"Your Highness, I'm very disappointed. You broke our agreement by coming here to drink."

"Sir Damian! Please, spare me! I won't do it again! So...!"

Damian poured two glasses of alcohol. He placed one in front of Oliver Apple.

Oliver Apple looked at Damian Hassen with a puzzled expression.

"Have a drink."

Damian drank his glass first. Oliver Apple cautiously sipped his drink.

"Phew."

Even in this situation, the alcohol tasted good. It was a shame it was just one glass.

"Would you like another drink?"

Oliver hesitantly held out his glass. Damian poured more alcohol.

Oliver drank the second glass. As the alcohol spread through his body, he gradually gained some courage.

"Are... you not angry?"

"I was originally going to be."

At this, Oliver's face turned pale.

"But then I thought about it. You've been through a lot these past two days, haven't you?"

Suffering.

At this word, Oliver's eyes blinked rapidly.

Yes, he had suffered. He had suffered a lot. He had suffered to the point of death.

When had he ever heard such words? Had he ever heard them before?

It felt strange to hear Damian Hassen acknowledge his suffering.

"You've worked hard, so I think it's okay to let off some steam today. Have another drink."

Oliver Apple held out his glass again. He drank the third glass.

"Your Highness, if you want to drink again, just let me know. I can't always allow it, but I can turn a blind eye sometimes."

"Is... is that really true?"

"Yes, but not in places like this. No bringing women either. It should be a moderate drinking session."

At the mention of no women, Oliver Apple hesitated again.

Alcohol and women.

Both were indispensable parts of Oliver Apple's life.

However, there was something that couldn't be filled by just these two things. Perhaps that's why he kept searching, not knowing what he truly wanted.

"I don't hear a response."

"I understand! I'll do it that way!"

"You must keep your promise."

Damian held out the bottle again. Oliver Apple took the drink.

"Sir Damian... can... can you repeat that?"

"What?"

"You... you said I worked hard, right?"

Oliver Apple asked, trying to hide his embarrassment. Damian said nonchalantly.

"You worked hard. You really put in a lot of effort with the unfamiliar studies."

At Damian's words, Oliver Apple's lips twitched.

He realized for the first time.

How good it felt to be recognized by others.

* * *

After drinking for a while, Oliver Apple passed out. He fell asleep on the sofa, completely out.

"I don't understand why someone with such a weak tolerance for alcohol would drink so much."

Damian finished the remaining alcohol. It wasn't particularly tasty.

He had been drinking it reluctantly to deal with Oliver Apple.

"Why did I like this tasteless thing so much in the past?"

As Damian smiled bitterly and muttered, a woman's voice came from outside.

"Can I come in?"

Damian put down his glass and said.

"Go ahead."

"Thank you."

The door opened, and a woman entered. She was wearing a red dress that suited her well.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Carmen, the owner of this place."

Damian examined the woman who introduced herself as Carmen. She had a regal air that didn't quite fit a tavern woman, but she wasn't quite a noble either.

"You don't look like an ordinary tavern owner."

At Damian's words, Carmen smiled and replied.

"This tavern is just a side business. My main job is something else."

"Main job?"

"I'm in charge of 'Lush Fragrance,' despite my shortcomings."

At the mention of Lush Fragrance, Damian looked surprised.

He had heard of Lush Fragrance in his previous life. It was a widespread dark organization throughout the Apple Kingdom, not limited to the capital.

It had a very tight organizational structure and significant influence, with many nobles having connections to it.

"You're quite a big shot."

"Only as much as you, Damian."

Carmen smiled and said.

"So why did you arrange this gathering? It must have cost a lot to prepare."

The alcohol here wasn't something easily obtained. The food served was all of the highest quality.

Most importantly, to clear out such a high-end tavern of this size would result in a significant loss.

"I wanted to lead a noble gathering centered around the crown prince. Managing those connections would be very helpful."

"You're answering so straightforwardly?"

"There's nothing to hide."

Carmen said casually. Damian looked at her with interest.

"From now on, it's better not to call me 'Your Highness.'"

"Understood."

"You're saying that too easily."

From Carmen's words, it seemed the crown prince was the center of the gathering. Without the crown prince, Carmen would suffer a significant loss.

Yet, she nodded without any discomfort.

"I may not know much, but I know how to survive."

At Carmen's words, Damian chuckled.

That was true. If he refused, Damian would have overturned Lush Fragrance in a day.

"I hope you keep that promise."

As Damian was about to support the prince, he suddenly remembered something.

"Do you have an underground market?"

Underground market.

A market for trading illicit items like stolen goods and drugs.

It was an illegal market, so not just anyone could run it. Only large organizations like Lush Fragrance could manage it.

"Yes. Do you need anything?"

Damian needed two things right now: medicinal herbs and mana cultivation techniques.

After consuming Alekto's Royal Jelly, his physical strength had greatly improved, but his magic power remained the same. He desperately needed medicinal herbs to boost his magic power.

He also needed a mana cultivation technique. To regain his previous level from his past life, he needed to create a technique that perfectly suited him.

He needed to obtain as many high-level mana cultivation techniques as possible.

"I want to participate in the next auction at the underground market."

The most valuable illegal items were sold at the auction within the underground market.

Perhaps he could find the items he needed there.

However, the auction at the underground market wasn't just any place. Only people with close ties to Lush Fragrance and who were trustworthy could participate.

"If you wish, I will send you an invitation to the next auction."

But thanks to meeting the boss of Lush Fragrance directly, Damian easily obtained an entry pass to the auction.

"Thanks."

Damian picked up Oliver Apple and stood up.

Outside, the sun had already risen.