CHAPTER 407: THE GUARDIAN OF THE NORTH

"Before I forget, let me introduce myself first. The name is Luthor," the old man said. "How about you, young friend? What’s your name?"

"Alex Stratos," Alex replied. "Just call me Alex, Sir Luthor."

The old man smiled faintly as if remembering a happy memory.

"It has been a while since someone called me Sir Luthor." Luthor kept smiling even as two baby slimes began to tug on his beard. "Well then, since the slimes have taken you here, I’m sure you’re not a bad person. Have you come here to learn from me and inherit my legacy?"

"Your legacy?" Alex asked, saddened that his idol had been reduced to such a state.

"Yes." Luthor nodded. "Didn’t I tell you? Back in my younger years, I was quite a ladies’ man! If I teach you everything I know, I guarantee that you will marry a wonderful lady. You will then have four kids named William, Lux, Ethan, and Zion.

Alex blinked, but the old man continued undeterred. "You will grow old and watch your sons marry and have kids of their own. You will be a beloved grandfather who dotes on his grandchildren. And when it’s finally time, you will die peacefully in your sleep. Ah... such a happy and fulfilled life, don’t you agree?"

Alex didn’t know if he should be happy or confused as he listened to the "happy future" he was supposed to get after receiving Luthor’s legacy.

A legacy based on the old man’s tried-and-tested ways to become popular with the ladies!

"Sir," Alex began cautiously, "it seems to me that you are the one who wants to give your kids those names."

The Guardian of the North burst into hearty laughter. "I was just making small talk to lessen the tension. Well then, care to tell me why the slimes have brought you to me?"

"To be perfectly honest, I don’t really know they have brought me here, Sir," Alex answered. "I told them to guide me to a treasure chest that is located somewhere under the lake, but before I knew it, I was here."

Alex sat down before the old man and crossed his legs. Up close, Luthor’s weathered face seemed even more exhausted. It’s a face that had endured much suffering over many years.

Gone was the hardy old man who had always wanted to look tidy and composed so that he might be an inspiring role model for the rest of the knights.

He was now disheveled, with hair and beard so long that the baby slimes could use them as swings while frolicking about him.

"A treasure chest?" the old man repeated with a slight smile. "Indeed. The young should always seek treasures during their adventures. But I think the slimes brought you to the right place because my wisdom in flirting is considered a priceless treasure."

"I’m sorry, but I’ll pass on that, Sir Luthor," Alex replied without hesitation. "I am confident that I’ll be fine on my own."

The old man shrugged. "It’s your loss. Well then, can you tell me what is happening in the outside world? I don’t know how long I’ve been here, but I think I’ve been away for a few years."

"I wish I could help, but I don’t know much about what is happening outside of the academy where I am currently studying."

"A student, eh?" Luthor played with his beard gently so the baby slime using it as a swing wouldn’t fall off. "How old are you? What school are you studying at?"

"I just turned eighteen, Sir," Alex replied. "And I am a student of Frieden Academy."

The old man stopped stroking his beard as if he had fallen into a trance. But a minute later, a sigh escaped his lips.

"If His Highness were still alive, he would probably be of the same age as you," Luthor said softly. "He would also be in Frieden Academy and taking honors because he’s a wonderful student. My Prince was a very talented person, you see."

The old man grimaced a little. "If I must point out one of his flaws, it was that he unfortunately inherited his singing voice from his grandmother. Damn... I swear that I can still hear that old bat shrieking when I sleep."

Although he was badmouthing people, the tenderness in his voice as he spoke about the "old bat" was unmistakable.

"May I know the name of this Prince?" Alex asked, keen to know if Luthor would give him the answer he was looking for.

However, the old man was not so forthcoming this time.

"I apologize, but I do not deserve to speak his name," Luthor said sadly, his voice filled with pain and bitterness. "I have failed him and broken my oath to protect him."

Alex couldn’t help but feel his eyes moisten as he looked at the person he had idolized while a player of ELO.

The Guardian of the North had been the sole reason behind Alex’s decision to take a Shielder Class. Luthor had taken this class himself in his youth, just before starting his adventures.

The proud and powerful knight that everyone had looked up to was now almost unrecognizable.

Forgotten, disheveled, a shell of his former self.

Alex bit his lower lip, unable to see Luthor in such a state. How could he possibly accept this?

This wasn’t the union he had been looking for. His idol was not supposed to be hapless, helpless, and hopeless!

Alex decided to do something that he knew might regret later on.

"Aetherius Alexian Vademont," Alex said in a calm but firm voice.

Luthor’s hands that were holding the book trembled as if remembering a name that he had treasured all these years.

However, a second later, his expression turned fierce as he lunged at Alex and pinned him down on the ground.

"Who are you and why do you know that name?!" Luthor growled.

Alex suddenly remembered that the old man in front of him was a Rank 8 Prism Knight.

Despite his looks, Luthor was very strong... incredibly strong.

Those who reached Rank 8 were true powerhouses, and even among such titans Luthor was still the one who excelled the most.

Even Nero, the Vampire Lord, didn’t dare to fight Luthor because he knew he wasn’t the old man’s match.

Luthor had killed a Paragon thanks to his reflection abilities.

making him the person who was the most difficult to kill in the world.

Any damage that landed on the Prism Knight’s body or armor would be reflected back to its caster.

Such abilities were not uncommon, but Luthor was the most difficult person to kill in the world because any attack that landed on him—whether physical or magical—would be reflected back eightfold.

This meant that if Luthor was slapped once, his enemy would feel that they were getting slapped eight times!

Luthor’s Profession was that incredibly broken.

Obviously, facing such an opponent would be a nightmare, but the Paragon of Ice had believed that he could emerge triumphant by using indirect damage.

Well, he had been wrong. Very wrong.

The Prism Knight could still reflect indirect damage back to those intending to hurt him.

Perhaps due to this profession being completely busted, only one Prism Knight could exist in every generation.

This Job Class also had very stringent requirements, similar to the Oathkeeper.

"Sir... I can’t breathe!" Alex struggled as the old man pressed the breath—and life—out of him.

Luthor snapped out of his trance and loosened his hold a bit. However, he continued to pin Alex down on the ground, demanding answers.

"How did you know his name?" Luthor repeated, his voice dripping with killing intent. "Who sent you?!"

"Eyah!"

"Eyah!"

"Eyah!"

The baby slimes were also surprised by the old man’s reaction. Small as they were, all of them pulled his hair and beard to separate him from Alex.

But Luthor remained still, his clouded, unseeing eyes locked on the boy’s face.

Out of desperation, Alex decided to throw caution to the wind and took a gamble.

"It is I, Luthor," Alex declared. "I am Aetherius Alexian Vademont!"

"Liar!" Luthor roared in fury. "His Highness is dead! I watched him die! How dare you tarnish his memory?!"

Out of anger, the old man lifted Alex from the ground and slammed him against the wall of the cavern.

Hearing Alex’s cry of pain, the baby slimes became desperate and urged the old man to stop.

One of the slimes turned to its sibling. "Eyah!" it exclaimed.

The other baby slime nodded and jumped into the water, swimming as fast as it could so it could bring back help as soon as possible.

It only hoped that Luthor would not kill the young man before it returned with someone who could put a stop to this misunderstanding.

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