Chapter 578: 484 There’s one more thing
Compared to the fierce battle that took place last time in Salisbury, there doesn’t seem to be any significant change in Gawain.
He is still as tall, still fully armored, the only difference being that he’s not holding a greatsword burning with flames like last time. Instead, he has sheathed his sword, his stance no longer aggressive.
Surprised by the unexpected visitor, Reiger couldn’t help but exclaim,
"What brings you here?"
When Reiger asked this, there was no hostility in his voice, just pure puzzlement.
Gawain, however, seemed to think differently.
"This is the royal palace, the chambers of His Majesty. We Elf Knights are permitted to come and go as we please here. What’s the problem with me being here?" Gawain, standing taller than Reiger, looked down at him from above. Though not overtly dominating, his stance was somewhat imposing as he said, "Or are you afraid to let someone you’ve once fought as an enemy into your room? You shouldn’t be so narrow-minded, right?"
"What makes you so sure I’m not narrow-minded?" Reiger squinted his eyes, speaking indifferently, "Maybe I happen to be a petty person, after all?"
"Self-deprecation is never beneficial," Gawain frowned, "The person who could unleash those fiery, unabated slashes, if such a man is petty, then I would quite like to see that for myself."
"Are you trying to subtly compliment me to death, or are you indirectly elevating yourself?" Reiger glanced at Gawain, "Aren’t you capable of delivering those kinds of slashes as well?"
"That’s exactly why I have taken some interest in you, son of prophecy," Gawain still looked down on Reiger as he said, "Like me, you can wield the Sun’s Fire and also command the black hound. Your way of fighting is really quite similar to mine."
Reiger, not changing his expression, threw out a response to Gawain’s assertion.
"The Breath of the Sun is just one of my ways of fighting, and the Hell Three-headed Dog is just one of my summonable creatures. If I wish, I can call upon lightning storms or giant dragons and demon wolves."
Reiger sat down at a table in the center of the room, gesturing toward the seat opposite him.
"Anyway, a visitor is a visitor. Now that you’re here, let’s sit and talk."
Hearing this, Gawain stared intently at Reiger for a while before finally taking a seat in front of him.
"Would you like tea or wine?"
Reiger began rinsing a few cups, asking without lifting his head as he washed them.
"Wine."
Gawain didn’t hesitate and immediately responded.
"Would beer be okay?" Reiger magically produced a bottle of beer and said, "I also have fruit wine and mead, but the stock of mead in Salisbury isn’t much, it’s a premium item, and I don’t have a lot here, so I won’t bring it out for you this time. As for fruit wine, you probably don’t like that, right?"
"I’m not a child," Gawain frowned again, seemingly concerned as he glanced at the way Reiger conjured up the bottle, then said, "Beer is fine."
Immediately, Reiger poured a beer for Gawain.
Gawain didn’t pick up his cup right away but continued to gaze steadily at Reiger, suddenly speaking after a while.
"Facing you like this, it’s hard to tell you could be someone so powerful."
Gawain expressed this sentiment spontaneously.
"In your opinion, what is being strong?"
Reiger picked up his beer with a half-smile.
"I’ve seen many powerful people," Gawain also picked up his cup and continued leisurely, "There are those like His Majesty, whose presence is always suffocating, those like Lancelot who exude an aura completely different from ordinary people, and people like Woodworth who display their own strength. But I’ve never met an odd character like you, seemingly unnoticeable at a glance, and if one doesn’t stare intently, they might even overlook you."
"Looking at you now, there was a moment just now when I almost couldn’t help but doubt."
"Doubt whether the overwhelmingly strong warrior who was venting battle intent and frenzy that day in Salisbury, who alone held off me, Lancelot, and Woodworth, and fought until bruised and battered, could be the same person in front of me now."
At that, Reiger laughed.
Then, all of a sudden, the atmosphere around him dramatically shifted.
"So, do I look like it now?"
The casual, relaxed tone changed completely. At this moment, Reiger, now calm and detached, was emanating a terrifying aura.
"————!"
Gawain’s pupils contracted, instinctively showing an expression akin to that of a carnivorous animal.
"Yes! That’s it!" Gawain’s calm voice sounded as if it was beginning to heat up, like he was suppressing some kind of impulse as he declared loudly, "That’s the you from that time! The one with the resolve to fight the chieftain of the Tusk Clan and two of the strongest Elf Knights alone!"
The chains on Gawain’s hands began to rattle.
Watching Gawain like this, Reiger suddenly retracted his formidable aura and used a technique that concealed his fighting spirit and presence, reducing his existence to the bare minimum.
"You didn’t come all this way just to say that, did you?" Reiger took a sip of his beer, his demeanor calm as he said, "I wasn’t aware the Lord of Manchester had so much free time."
As Elf Knights directly under Queen Morgan, whether it was Gawain, Lancelot, or Tristan, each had their own territory.