Having defeated countless challengers, the two-hour selection for the Guardsmen was finally drawing to a close.
The enthusiastic cheers of the spectators gradually subsided as Leon looked over the remaining queue of candidates and saw no new challengers stepping forward.
He then turned to evaluate the five outstanding Guardsmen prospects who had emerged from the nearly one hundred and fifty applicants.
Apart from Zabron, who was the first to pass the trials, the other four—Baville, Bozi, Brinan, and Dadaniel—ranged from twenty-five to thirty years of age.
Each came from different backgrounds: a Hunter, a Leatherworker, a Shepherd, and even a Brewer…
All had extensive experience serving in the military forces of the Lord.
Regrettably, all five were from either Longka or Platon.
Despite Selva’s previously larger supply of soldiers compared to the other two regions, not a single local Militia could pass the trials.
Glancing at Olivia, Leon couldn’t help but think that perhaps the presence of this girl alone had already drained all the martial virtue from Selva.
Just as he was about to conclude the assembly, from the crowd of villagers gathered around the event, he heard an unexpected stammering voice.
Hearing this familiar voice, Leon turned around to see his young stableman, whom he had hired to take care of the horses at his home, dashing into the arena in quick strides.
The young man rushed over and knelt on one knee, his expression urgent.
Can I possibly have…?”
Already accustomed to his stutter, Leon immediately understood the essence of his stableman’s request and took the initiative to ask, “Do you also wish to give it a try?”
your Guard!” Hawk stammered out his request, nodding vigorously.
The stuttering young man was relieved that he was just in time.
He had been organizing the Lord’s Warhorse in the stables, and if it weren’t for the other young servants who dragged him over to spectate, he would have nearly missed this chance.
Leon had not expected that this honest youth, who grew up on charity meals, would also partake in swordplay.
But since the first rush of the Magic Element within him was still ongoing, Leon was indifferent to testing one more candidate, especially since the individual was a servant employed by his own household.
“Go put on some Armor.”
With Leon’s approval, Hawk, as if granted amnesty, quickly ran to the remaining sets of Armor and selected the Urian Scale Armor.
Donning it over his body, he picked up the sword and shield, and entered the arena, tense yet excited.
Leon observed Hawk, sizing up his clumsy sword and shield stance and felt a hint of disappointment.
Clearly, the stuttering youth was unskilled with the Shield.
But Leon would not go easy on him just because he knew him; after all, an annual salary of twenty-four Gold Coins was not easily earned.
Raising his long sword just like with the other candidates, Leon took up a solid rooftop guard and without waiting for Hawk to approach, he immediately stepped forward to close the distance.
Swiftly entering attacking range, Leon unleashed an unapologetic powerful slash.
The front of the blade targeted Hawk’s feebly held shield side and delivered a fierce strike that unsurprisingly collapsed the young man’s amateur defense.
However, as Leon’s blade continued from the slash into a stab, intending to end the test, he found Hawk sidestepping and raising his sword to block the sword’s tip while his body swiveled out of the line of attack like a weathervane.
Hawk’s waist drove his footwork, sidestepping in a spoon-shaped path, instantly increasing the distance.
As he abandoned shield defense to make a side retreat, his shoulders jerked, and he managed to raise his one-handed sword just in time to intercept Leon’s changing sideways swing.
The swinging blade forced down on Hawk’s one-handed sword, striking the side of the young man’s helmet with a sharp clang.
Though clumsy, Leon’s third strike was ultimately defended.
Watching as Hawk kept retreating in panic, Leon slowed his offensive momentum slightly.
This familiar rhythm of Body Techniques…
Leon couldn’t help but glance over at the golden-haired girl outside the arena.
Had Olivia taught Hawk how to fight?
Yet from the girl’s expression, Leon also could see her surprise.
As her friend looked towards her through his helmet with puzzled eyes, Olivia spread her hands, nodded, and then shook her head.
Indeed, she had demonstrated a few moves to Hawk and some villagers, and she never purposely avoided acquaintances during her practice sessions.
she had never taught complex techniques like Cat Spinning to anyone other than Leon and their friends.
After all, this self-created set of Body Techniques and force application was something she had only recently finalized and had taught its principles only to the extraordinary trio she befriended as a parting gift.
Olivia’s memories turned back to Hawk, standing in the arena.
The only time their paths could have crossed regarding this technique was later, when she was guiding Leon and his friends in the yard, with Hawk spectating beside the stables.
Leon suppressed his guess and refocused his attention on Hawk.
Whether or not it was Olivia who taught it, Leon recognized the opponent’s attentiveness and potential…
The stuttering young man had evidently practiced this technique privately with great dedication.
Closely scrutinizing Hawk as he raised his shield again.
Leon charged forward aggressively.
With a feint, he shook off the young man’s inexperienced shield position, curious to test the fleeting appearance of his Body Techniques.
Rather than resorting to a more cunning strike, Leon lunged with a straightforward stab at Hawk, who twisted his body and stepped out in another proper spoon-shaped path while pressing his sword against the stab, even attempting a counterattack in the process.