268:
Klara’s memory fragments were very messy when she was a child. Among these fragments, the memories of training were the least. All kinds of hardships during training could not destroy her spirit, and the tall and ferocious beasts had never made her retreat or be timid.
And the most numerous fragments were those related to other people. Sometimes, a look from someone else, a careless word, would make Klara feel fear and sadness. She was like a hedgehog that was afraid of everything, shrinking under a thick protection, and also using sharp thorns to keep others away.
But she was also lucky. The group of avengers who had raised her were not afraid of that layer of thorns. They would always clumsily come to Klara’s side and then, bit by bit, push away her thorns.
Later, many, many figures of avengers appeared in Klara’s memory. A subconscious compliment from them, and a hug during a celebration, would all make Klara feel warm.
These experience fragments gave Shelley a deeper understanding of Klara’s image in his heart.
She was strong, and also fragile. She was fearless, and also sensitive. She was no longer just the mentor’s daughter, a good-looking but bad-tempered avenger, but a fragile and sensitive mixed-blood young girl.
After that, her memories had a new change.
Shelley saw the reunion of the aged, inhuman-looking Salier and Klara. Although Klara acted exceptionally cold, her words were full of sarcasm, as if she were full of anger at Salier for ruthlessly abandoning her… but in fact, her heart was full of the joy and emotion of their reunion.
In the memories after that, there were many more fragments of her time with Salier. The straight-man Salier had said a lot of things about Shelley, and Shelley had also heard Salier’s evaluation of him for the first time, “A child who is sometimes very childish, and sometimes very mature.”
“He is very talented and works very hard. He has never relaxed his training.”
“He is very good-looking and very popular, but he is not promiscuous.”
“He has his own firm bottom line in his heart.”
“He looks very honest, but he is actually very naughty in private.”
“…”
Salier was like a naughty child showing off his treasure, constantly telling Klara about Shelley’s good points. But what he didn’t know was that this extremely straight-man behavior… made Klara’s heart full of resentment toward the Shelley she had never met.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Klara ended the topic. She asked, “What kind of person do you think he will become in the end?”
Salier, who had been going on and on about Shelley, was stunned for a moment and stopped talking. Then, under Klara’s incomprehensible gaze, he said without hesitation, “Shelley, he…”
“He will become a legendary.”
“A legendary paladin.”
“A being who can save others.”
This was something Klara could not understand at all. She even had the thought that Salier was playing with her.
“An illegitimate son of a noble… and even just a paladin apprentice.”
“And you’re sure he’ll become a great legendary in the future?”
But looking at Salier’s serious gaze, she still did not say the doubt in her heart. She couldn’t bear to let this… frail old man be hurt.
This doubt prompted her to stay behind alone and secretly meet Shelley.
The first meeting with Shelley still shocked Klara a little. His appearance was more exquisite than Salier had described. Even she, who was not interested in appearance, couldn’t help but have a good impression. And he had a mysterious feeling about him.
Not only did he have a bloody smell on him, but there was actually a high-level assassin beside him who took his orders. And he had even recognized her identity as an avenger at a glance…
Although all of this could prove that Shelley was definitely not a dandy who was drunk in social occasions every day, it was ultimately not worthy of Salier’s high evaluation.
Klara just took it as Salier’s praise for his student. After that meeting, she never put Shelley in her heart again.
And how careless she was at that time, how shocked she was when she heard the news of Shelley again.
The Knight of Two Queens, the dictator of Ir, the king behind Fente… the high priest of a new god.
The deeds after every title shocked Klara.
Watching that man being crowned by a new god under the crowd. Klara couldn’t say what she felt in her heart. She was gratified for Salier, and also a little unconvinced of Shelley’s achievements.
Unfortunately, that man did not remember their old friendship and ignored her request for help, so she resolutely set off on her own.
When she saw him again, she was on the verge of death, and her father’s life or death was unknown. But he had come to them like a god, and like grabbing a small chicken, he had crushed that arrogant woman.
…
Shelley and Klara opened their eyes at the same time. Klara sat up abruptly and shook her head hard. After a while, she looked at Shelley before her with a complex expression, this man who could already be called a legendary.
Just from the circulating news, it was hard for Klara to imagine what kind of role this man had played in those events. It would even make people doubt if those experiences were exaggerated.
But after she truly understood, Klara was extremely shocked. Not only were those things not exaggerated, but a part of them had even been deliberately covered up.
Not to mention Shelley’s suddenly increased strength and his endless methods, just the fact that he had dealt with various legendary beings from the beginning of his debut, and had played a crucial role in them, this person was qualified enough to match those prestigious names.
Not to mention his later legendary experiences.
Assassinating a legendary half-orc assassin, slaughtering a legendary vampire king who had plagued a kingdom, slaughtering a white dragon, slaying a god, hunting a godspawn… each of these major events, if just one was revealed, would be enough to make him famous on the Material Plane.
But now, the mainstream news circulating on the Material Plane was all like this: Shelley was a pretty boy who had relied on his looks and wisdom to get close to a queen and a goddess…
Your pretty boy can do those things?
The two of them looked at each other, speechless for a moment.
“Awkward, so fucking awkward…”
[Hahahaha!]
[This is the scene I was looking forward to.]
If the Klara before him were replaced by Nadia, or any of his women, Shelley would not have any awkward feelings at all. Because Shelley’s feelings for them were all sincere. If this matter would not harm you after you knew it, and you wanted to know, I would definitely say…
But the key was, Shelley and Klara’s relationship was not at that level… they didn’t have a close relationship, but they knew each other’s most intimate news.
Looking at each other, speechless, there was only…
“I want to duel you.”
[Hahahaha!]
