Chapter 292: The Wasted Genius and Leon’s Praise
Merlin pointed at Leon, horror etched across his pale, handsome face.
As hard as it was to believe, no one else came to mind but this damn man. Worse yet, he continued to smile at him, as if mocking him, further solidifying Merlin’s suspicions.
Still, he clung to the hope that he was mistaken. Otherwise, he knew the opportunity to gain glory on the battlefield was lost forever.
Reality, however, is often both harsh and unforgiving. Liliana, hearing his words, gave a slight nod, her lips curling into a faint smile.
“You’re right, Merlin. Leon will lead the reinforcements on the battlefield, and my decision is final,” she said, her tone indifferent.
Merlin clenched his fists in frustration, teeth gritting.
With her decision set in stone, he realized there was no way for him to take command of the reinforcements.
Yet accepting this reality was nearly impossible—this was his last opportunity to prove himself on the battlefield.
At that moment, Reyna, standing beside Merlin, was struck with disbelief, her gaze locked on Leon.
“Leon? Why does that name sound so familiar?” She asked suddenly, blinking in confusion. “Wait! Isn’t that the name of the sword hero of mankind?”
The name “Leon Kruger,” the Sword Hero of Mankind, was infamous among the Demon race, particularly to those like her and the other Demon Generals who had faced him in battle.
He was extraordinarily powerful, mastering hero power with precision and wielding deadly, flawless combat techniques.
To Reyna and the other Demon Generals, Leon Kruger was a waking nightmare. Every war he led ended in crushing defeat and heavy losses for the Demon forces.
However, news had spread that the Sword Hero of Mankind, Leon Kruger, had been defeated and killed by their Demon Emperor. This had shocked the Demon Generals, but they were also elated.
With the death of Leon Kruger, humanity would inevitably be weakened, giving the Demon race a significant advantage.
So when Reyna heard the name of the handsome man who had, for the first time, made her heart race, she was both startled and confused.
Beside her, Merlin quickly snapped to attention as Reyna’s words echoed in his mind. He stared at Leon in disbelief.
“Leon Kruger? Could it really be him? But how is that possible?” Merlin’s eyes widened in horror as he turned to Liliana, silently pleading for confirmation.
Liliana’s expression remained unchanged; she had anticipated their reaction.
Shaking her head slightly, she smiled coldly and replied dismissively, “Leon Kruger? What are you talking about, Reyna? He died at my hands in the Desert of Chaos, and you should know this already, right?”
After a brief pause, she continued, shaking her head, “This is Leon Orion, my husband—ahem, I mean, my special guest and friend. You should treat him with the same respect you show me.”
Initially, she intended to introduce Leon as both her husband and partner, but after some reflection, she decided against it.
It wasn’t that she didn’t love Leon or didn’t want to share their relationship; rather, she recognized that doing so would likely bring endless trouble their way.
Moreover, she didn’t want to place Leon in the spotlight or draw unnecessary attention to him, as that could potentially reveal his true identity as a sword hero.
Thus, she resolved to wait for the right moment to announce their relationship rather than rushing into it.
Leon chuckled softly at Liliana’s explanation but chose not to respond. He agreed with her decision to keep his identity as her partner under wraps and was completely fine with it.
Listening to Liliana, Reyna nodded slightly, realizing the logic in her words.
Suddenly, an exhilarating thought crossed her mind, igniting a spark of excitement within her.
“Since he’s a friend of Her Majesty the Demon Emperor, does that mean I have a chance?” Reyna mused inwardly, her beautiful eyes shimmering with anticipation.
If she had previously harbored doubts about approaching him due to uncertainty about his relationship with Her Majesty the Demon Emperor, she now felt confident about pursuing him and making him her own.
As the sixth Demon General and the most beautiful woman in the outer palace, she believed she could easily win him over.
Subconsciously, she licked her lips in a seductive manner, gazing at Leon with affection.
Noticing the strange look Reyna was giving him, Leon froze slightly, his mouth twitching at the corners.
“Damn… What’s wrong with this woman?” Leon thought, feeling helpless.
Reyna had glanced at him multiple times, and her intense gaze made him extremely uncomfortable, as if she were ready to pounce at any moment.
He quickly averted his eyes, pretending not to notice.
“Since you’ve gotten your answers from me, you may leave and return to the outer palace,” Liliana said lightly as she slowly rose to her feet.
Upon hearing this, Merlin’s expression shifted slightly, and he opened his mouth to say something, but ultimately no words came out.
In contrast, Reyna remained composed, showing little change on her beautiful face at Liliana’s expulsion order.
Her true intention in coming was indeed to request that Liliana appoint her as the leader of the reinforcements for the battlefield in the Desert of Chaos. However, since Liliana had already chosen someone else for the role, Reyna felt no disappointment, which was in stark contrast to Merlin’s ambitious desire for the position.
Slowly, Reyna bowed her head toward Liliana and said respectfully, “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me, Your Majesty. In that case, I would like to request permission to leave.”
After speaking, she cast a captivating glance at Leon, making no effort to hide her interest, before gracefully walking away from the parlor.
Witnessing Reyna’s departure, Merlin felt a wave of frustration wash over him, realizing that if he persisted in his stubbornness, he would only embarrass himself.
With his head slightly bowed toward Liliana, he suppressed his dissatisfaction and spoke in a subdued voice, “In that case, I also request permission to leave, Your Majesty the Demon Emperor.”
Liliana nodded slightly and replied curtly, “Very well.”
Merlin slowly lifted his head and shot a resentful glance at Leon before exiting the parlor with a disgruntled expression.
As Merlin’s figure faded from view, Leon crossed his arms and chuckled softly.
“Merlin is indeed quite pitiful. He possesses exceptional talent in both swordsmanship and magic. Given more time, he could potentially reach a level where he competes with the arch-demons—or even surpass them to become the strongest after you, Liliana,” Leon remarked, his tone thoughtful. With a soft sigh, he added, “Unfortunately, his selfishness, carelessness, arrogance, and narrow-mindedness squander all his talent and potential.”
To be truly strong, one needs not only exceptional talent and potential but also equally strong emotional and mental stability. Without this stability, a person’s talent and potential cannot be fully realized, as is the case with Merlin.
He greatly admired Merlin and acknowledged that his talent was remarkable—perhaps even on par with his own.
However, Merlin’s emotional instability and narrow-mindedness hindered his growth, preventing him from advancing and harnessing his true potential.
“It’s a pity that a genius like him doesn’t recognize his own shortcomings,” Leon muttered helplessly.
Although he felt irritation toward Merlin, he genuinely hoped that he would overcome his weaknesses and gain self-awareness.
After all, he would eventually have to battle the evil god, and he knew he couldn’t do it alone.
Having a friend like Merlin, who had unlocked his full potential, would greatly benefit not just him but the entire world in the battle to come.
Lyra was surprised by Leon’s high praise for Merlin, casting him a doubtful glance.
While she acknowledged Merlin’s talent, she felt Leon was overestimating him. Furthermore, Merlin’s questionable character only fueled her doubts.
“Your Majesty Leon, is that really true? You’re not exaggerating about Merlin, are you?” Lyra inquired, her curiosity laced with skepticism.
Leon smiled faintly at the doubt in her eyes and was about to elaborate when Liliana suddenly interjected.
“What Leon said is true, Lyra,” Liliana replied firmly, her expression serious. “Merlin possesses immense talent and potential. If he channels his efforts into overcoming his weaknesses, he could easily become a formidable demon, capable of surpassing even eight arch-demons, including you.”
Pausing for a moment, Liliana sighed, her expression mirroring Leon’s earlier helplessness. “Unfortunately, as Leon mentioned, he remains unaware of his flaws, causing all his potential and talent to go to waste.”
Lyra was taken aback by Liliana’s words. If she had been skeptical before, Liliana’s assertion left her with no choice but to believe it.
‘So, Merlin, is that powerful?’ Lyra thought in amazement.
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached the parlor door, and a mature maid with an elegant yet captivating presence entered. She walked toward them and bowed respectfully to Liliana.
“I apologize for the interruption, Your Majesty Liliana. I’ve come to inform you that the demon troops you requested are now assembled and ready for your command,” she explained softly.
“Already? I thought it would take at least an hour.” Liliana’s eyebrows arched slightly at the maid’s words, prompting her to unconsciously glance at Lyra.
Sensing Liliana’s gaze, Lyra, equally taken aback, shook her head slightly, as if puzzled by the situation.
Seeing the shock on Liliana’s face, the maid quickly clarified, “Your Majesty the Demon Emperor, the reinforcements assembled swiftly thanks to the intervention of Arch-Demon Aragon.”
Upon hearing the name “Aragon,” Liliana’s beautiful features darkened instantly.
“Aragon, you say?”
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