Chapter 4: The Enemy

This youth, named after the legendary Ice Giant Wolf, is the chief heir of the Sais family, which represents the faction of the councilors. At this moment, he can barely be considered a "comrade" on the same front, as the Asrexis family is still aligned with the councilor faction.

It must be stated that the deaths of Fina and Alice are, to some extent, related to Fenrir's interference.

Compared to an invitation, this feels more like a command. As for the purpose, it is not truly to celebrate Midi, but rather to remind and intimidate Fina that this powerful member of your team is under my control. Of course, Midi can also anticipate that at the banquet, Fenrir will surely try every means to uncover her true nature

Thus, the Asrexis family, holding the title of Count, became a pawn in the factional struggles, one that could be discarded at any moment. Yet, Midi remained completely unaware, believing instead that she had garnered attention

I heard that someone has passed the renowned 'Flame' challenge, so I came to take a look," Fenrir said with a smile, displaying a calm demeanor. "I didn't expect it to be you.

As the chief heir of the Sais family, whether within the territory or at the academy, wherever he goes, he is the object of others' flattery. It is not just among peers; even among true nobles, there are certainly many who bow their heads before him

In fact, have I not already been treated as cannon fodder?

After the Storm Queen Fina was injured due to the trials, the Seth family not only launched various political offensives but also shifted all the blame onto the Midi family, completely disregarding the original agreement.

"Having such a person as a companion in the trials does not seem bad either," Sigmund offered his suggestion

This is the first objective that Medea aims to achieve

It was precisely due to Fenrir's instigation that I, who had always lacked ambition, began to desire involvement in the conflict between the Queen's faction and the Parliamentarians, as well as in the control of the library. Furthermore, with the pressure exerted by the Seth family, employing both soft and hard tactics, balancing grace and authority, even though Midi's father felt helpless about his wayward son's actions, he had no choice but to nod in submission.

Still, did the most striking unattainable beauty, the Queen of Magic Bullets, ultimately choose herself

If it were only these things, it would be one thing; foolishness cannot be blamed on others. The world of nobility is inherently a cruel and heartless realm adorned with luxury, etiquette, and smiles, where winning and losing are quite normal

This brilliant and sincere smile, on a rainy winter day, is like warm sunshine, leaving the future Queen of Magic Bullets and her two loyal companions speechless

It is just the right moment; why not take this opportunity to completely sever ties with the councilor and no longer act as a pawn!" Midy thought, striding forward.

The sound of the attendants' synchronized footsteps echoed continuously, much heavier than the sound of the incessant rain, striking at the hearts of everyone present. These well-trained guards formed two lines, leaving a straight path in the middle that led directly to the luxurious carriage, drawn by eight thoroughbred horses, which had just come to a stop outside the training ground

A blond youth slowly got out of the car. He was quite tall, comparable to an adult, with short hair resembling golden ears of wheat, accentuating a handsome yet cold face.

Regardless of the thoughts he harbors, this demeanor and character alone are enough to inspire admiration

Fenrir Seth... he whispered this name softly from his lips

Although the count's territory of the family is indeed not far from the duke's territory of the Sais family, they do not directly connect. Even if the other party were to mobilize troops, it would require considerable effort. Currently, it happens to be the period of the academy trials, during which all factions in the duchy are extremely sensitive. Even the Sais family would not dare to act rashly, which has bought some time.

This is not a result of hatred clouding his judgment, nor is it a momentary impulse driven by passion, but rather a calculated outcome.

Middy did not understand why Fenrir harbored such hatred towards him, or whether it was jealousy. However, there was no doubt that the deep-seated enmity between the two was absolutely irreconcilable. He had no doubt that in this lifetime, the young man before him would, given the opportunity, unhesitatingly cast him aside as cannon fodder, and would still ruthlessly reduce him to ashes.

The corners of Midi's mouth revealed a cold and self-mocking smile

Moreover, Fina does not believe that Midi harbors any real malice. If that were the case, he would not need to come on so strong and make himself so conspicuous from the very beginning. Instead, he should have discreetly infiltrated through the assessment of the six puppets and then launched a sudden attack at a critical moment.

"Middy Asreks, from now on, you are a member of my team." Looking at the black-haired youth who was wiping the sweat from his forehead, Fina finally spoke, "What we need to do next is very simple: secure the first place in the trial. Can you keep up?"

Among these, the persecution suffered by Midy's family was particularly severe; both parents were executed, and the entire count's territory was reduced to ashes, leaving not a single person remaining

In the memories of the previous life, my interactions with Fenrir during our time at the academy were minimal. To avoid any misunderstandings, he adopted a completely indifferent attitude towards Fina's team composition.

Just as Midas was deep in thought, the heavy roar of the training ground's gate was suddenly flung open

At this moment, Medina's dark black pupils suddenly constricted sharply

In that case, it would be better to sever ties completely from the outset, shattering all invisible shackles.

Ultimately, this body is still that of a young dandy; perhaps the soul residing within is filled with grand aspirations after rebirth, yet the physical condition still falls far behind.

Thank you for the compliment, Lord Fenrir. " Midi replied calmly, adhering to the standard noble etiquette and the decorum of the occasion.

Is it because both individuals are Demon Swordsmen, yet one has fortuitously obtained a stronger Demon God?

"You have successfully passed the Flame Challenge, which is worth celebrating. Come to the Elven King's Court Hotel tonight, and I will gather a group of friends to congratulate you," Fenrir said, then thought for a moment and added with a mischievous smile, "And that girl you mentioned wanting last time, I will bring her along too. Anyway, I am already tired of her, so I might as well give her to you."

Whether from a personal perspective or from the standpoint of family, the Seth family and one's own family have irreconcilable conflicts that will inevitably lead to a rupture. If this situation continues to be prolonged, maintaining subservience to the Seth family will not yield any protection or benefits; on the contrary, it will only result in increasingly greater costs.

The admiration of Sigmund, the skepticism of Lilian, and the recognition from the Storm Queen brought a glimmer of warmth to Midi's heart. Having just been reborn, the exposure of his strength and the total investment of his spirit to achieve this victory finally bore fruit.

Strength, the current self, requires more strength

With just a few simple words, he achieved the effect of sowing discord and winning over and appeasing others. This Fenrir is indeed not to be underestimated

However, this time is different; there are many eyes and ears on the training ground. The news of the "Flame Challenge" has surely reached the other party. Fenrir's hurried arrival must be due to the fact that the originally expendable troops have become a formidable force, necessitating his personal appearance. On one hand, he attempts to sway Fina, and on the other, he seeks to win her over.

If it were the Storm Queen, that would be one thing, but what is this Medea before me? Merely the son of a count, with his territory not far from the duchy of the Sais family. He has no real options and can only become a vassal of the great nobility, a vanguard of the parliamentary faction

But if he is truly an undercover agent, then we cannot ignore it any longer. Lilian's gaze flickered uncertainly, her tone somewhat eager, "Miss Fina, should I go and test him out?"

"If you want war, then I shall give you a war," Midian replied淡淡地, her gaze upon Fenrir calm and sharp, devoid of any emotional fluctuation

However, this noble game holds no significance for the reborn Midi. At the thought of the misery of his previous life, he completely lost the inclination to engage in pretense and simply shook his head: "I have no time to attend your banquet, Lord Fenrir, and I am not interested in it either"

At this point, they could already ascertain that the individual who had supposedly joined their team, a mere level 16 and said to be unlearned, was certainly not simple. Not only did he possess formidable strength, but he also remained composed even in the presence of the Storm Queen's aura

Fenrir blinked, a hypocritical noble smile appearing on his face, momentarily thinking he had misheard.

I will do my utmost," Midi replied while calming her breath.

In that case, it would be better to sever ties early, shattering all the constraints and shackles binding oneself to the family

Even if it has not yet reached the level of "trust," at least I have truly entered Fina's field of vision. In the upcoming trials, if any situation arises, the suggestions I put forward will at least carry some weight and will not be directly ignored.

As long as we endure this period, soon, with the arrival of the Great Fire of Gran, the value of the earldom where the Midi family resides will continuously manifest itself

"There is no need for that," Fina shook her head. "I mentioned from the very beginning that anyone who can pass the assessment on the training ground is a member of my team. Since it is a promise that has already been made, it must naturally be upheld"

Looking back now, these actions seem so ridiculous

"You are insane," Fenrir said, slightly pursing his lips, resuming his previous condescending attitude, and sneered, "In front of the Seth family, you are nothing but a minor noble! You merely passed the Flame Challenge, and you truly think of yourself as something significant? With just a flick of my finger, you and your family will wish you were dead!"

The moment the young man stepped into the training ground, the originally humid and warm air inexplicably filled with the scent of gunpowder. Even Sigmund and Lilian, who usually remained calm and composed, had their expressions turn serious, while only Fina, unafraid of anything, continued to wear her usual mocking smile with an air of confidence

But this fellow dared to be so disrespectful to himself, and Fenrir's handsome face was twisted with anger.

When the Delos Empire launched its invasion, the Seth family, which had always been righteous and self-proclaimed as the "voice of the people," unexpectedly turned traitor and handed the entire nation over. Fenrir became the vanguard serving the Empire, ruthlessly slaughtering and suppressing a large number of the people of the Belmar Duchy

However, how could Medusa, who had long known of the other party's cold and ruthless nature, possibly fall for it again

After all, the other party has never shown any sincerity; they merely wish to exploit what they perceive as expendable roles

However, what Fenrir and his family have done is far more ruthless

Medea is honest, this is what Fina's intuition tells her

Even after Midia had been in exile for several years and finally established the "Falcon Brigade," starting a new life as an adventurer on the Arad continent, Fenrir, who had already undergone a second awakening, still ruthlessly suppressed himself in various large-scale strategic operations, even resorting to backstabbing.

Scenes from past lives emerged from the depths of memory, causing Midi's fists to clench tightly without restraint

However, this battle once again made Midy aware of his current limits— the young man was far from as relaxed as he appeared on the surface— merely the initial evasion had already consumed most of his mental energy, and afterward, he was entirely relying on years of skill to respond. The burden of executing techniques like the Demon Slash with a human swordsman's body is not to be mentioned, but the subsequent consumption battle against eight intermediate puppets was nearly exhausting him.