Chapter 46 - Long Awaited Encounter

“Oh my, you don’t just seem like you haven’t eaten for weeks…”

After bringing back the elderly man to the inn, Leo guided him to the dining room where he ordered several lunch portions for the starving man while slowly eating his own.

Naturally, the reason why Leo did all of this wasn’t that he had a sudden change of heart regarding money management. Rather...

Just like any other recurring cliche in the countless novels that Leo had read… Beggars, elderly men, weaklings, such people who were unlikely to be of any importance were authors’ favorites when it came to the reveal of supreme beings who held unimaginable forms of power or knowledge. The author of ‘The Sword Master’s Second Life’ was no different.

However, unlike the usual reasons for these great beings’ ‘hidden forms’ whether that be an incurable energy, a powerful enemy, or even seeking a mundane life, the reason used by the author was slightly… ‘fresh’.

‘He is a great actor for sure.’

The elderly man sitting before Leo, devouring food like the embodiment of gluttony was simply acting. He was really starving, but that wasn’t because he couldn’t eat, the man chose not to eat so he could pull off his quarterly ‘apprentice selection’.

“So, what is someone like you doing starving on the street?”

As the pace of the elderly man’s devouring slowed down and went back to normal eating pace, Leo threw a question before he leisurely put a spoon of rice into his mouth.

Unlike most old men who ended up being the protagonist’s masters due to his otherworldly manners, this elderly man was someone who didn’t fall under the protagonist’s charm. This, however, didn’t mean that he had no relations to Ray. In fact, he was the master of Ray’s master!

“What do you mean by that?”

Hearing Leo’s question, the elderly man answered obliviously in a ragged voice, his eyes still focused on the food before him.

“Hmm? I’m pretty sure you are someone of an extraordinary standing… a scholar if you were to ask for my guess.”

The elderly man who was Leo’s primary reason for visiting Swordkeep was a scholar, but he was no ordinary scholar. He was none other than the great scholar who accompanied the first expedition to the Sword of Epoch!

Not only was he the first interpreter for the symbols inscribed on the Sky-Piercing Sword, but he was also the man who stood behind the current Empire’s rise!

“Failed scholars are everywhere. Although it’s commendable for you to guess something like this, it means nothing.”

As the man who possessed knowledge of every ‘Sword Breathing Manual’ that existed in this world, he had peculiar methods when it came to reaching his objectives.

After he supported the rise of the Sky-Piercing Sword Empire, the old man who fully inspected the Sword of Epoch knew that this wasn’t the end. His based premonitions lead him to seek an apprentice who he would teach his ‘treasure’, all so that he would succeed in what he predicted that the Empire would fail to achieve.

However, instead of using the Empire’s power to make tournaments or examinations for the sake of picking the best ‘seed’, the great scholar personally conducted quarterly ‘tests’ starting with his acting as the first test.

Luckily for Leo, these specific details were exposed by Ray’s master who explained everything as he brought him along to meet his grandmaster and ended up ruining one of his quarterly selections.

“That’s true, but I don’t think you are a normal scholar, let alone a failed one. I think you are more of an…”

In order to obtain this great scholar’s ‘treasure’, Leo originally planned to try and succeed at passing his tests. Unfortunately, the moment he met him, he immediately decided to give up this idea.

The very first moment his eyes met the scholar’s eyes, Leo felt completely seen through, instantly realizing the reason why Ray’s master was the only one to pass his test in decades. Although his age and control allowed him to pass the first step, Leo knew that he would be exposed if he went against this man who accumulated years of wisdom and experience.

“...Imperial Scholar?”

As such, Leo decided to fully unleash his advantage as a reader! Why should he act in front of an experienced actor? Wouldn’t it be better if he showed off his ‘intellect’ to convince his opponent rather than be exposed as a scammer?

Although the focus of the scholar’s tests emphasized character, he also tested the examinee’s capacity to learn and understand. Since he already passed the first compulsory test, Leo simply used it as a ticket to solve a question of his own making rather than wait for the scholar to present his questions.

“Oh? You think so?”

Parting with the food for the first time, the elderly man’s eyes looked at Leo’s young face in interest, seemingly waiting for further explanation.

‘Did someone tell him?’

Sensing the doubt in the man’s eyes, Leo could almost tell what he was thinking considering the reality of the situation.

“I don’t know if you are trying to hide it or you simply lost most of it under the wearing of time, but even under the pressure of hunger, your eating manners still have hints of finesse to it. Such ingrained etiquette is something that normal scholars don’t have… The same thing can be said about the way you followed me here.”

Perhaps due to the fact that he already knew the identity of the man before him, Leo didn’t have to pretend to notice the gaps in his acting, rather, it was very obvious to Leo’s eyes that he could even mention them one by one.

Instead of answering Leo’s suspicion, the man stared into his eyes for a whole minute before the end of his lips curled up.

‘Interesting…’

“I see you have quite the discerning eyes… What do you say we continue this conversation after I change into a more suitable attire?”

A clear and healthy voice dissimilar to the way the man spoke before made its way out of his mouth as he stood, his eyes waiting for an answer.

“I don’t see why not, I have a few more hours of free walk time left anyway. I’m sure your story would be more interesting than the boring sight of the bustling streets.”

“Much appreciated…”

Smiling in return, the man almost walked away before turning his head back for Leo, leaving a few more words before he completely left.

“...Oh yeah, you can drop off the grandpa, just call me Rain.”