It didn't take too long for Noel and Anna to get accustomed to tracing their Spirit Link and utilizing it to boost their physical prowess. However, Old Ru mentioned that it was only one of the functions. There was one more hidden function that they had to discover.
It didn't take too long for them to realize it. Since the veins flowed to their limbs, it would act as a natural flow. In order words, they could use the Spiritual Energy that flowed from their Spirit Seal to their limbs to repel the enemy's attack.
These two continued to train under Old Ru at a ridiculous speed. It was already insane that they managed to become a Spirit Master within two years, but the fact that they would soon become a Spirit Grandmaster would shock the entire kingdom.
Time passed by. Without them realizing it, two and a half months ever since they arrived at this place had passed by.
Every day was fulfilling to the point where they couldn't think of anything other than training. Of course, the interaction as well as the competition between Noel and Anna made the training less boring, but it didn't change the fact that a long time had passed.
In another forty-five days, they had to return to the kingdom. Hence, this was the time they should begin the last phase of the training, which was the hunt.
Noel and Anna stretched their bodies as this was the first time they fought demons after their training. They didn't know what kind of change it would bring to them.
Obviously, the area was extremely dangerous. Dimitri, Damian, and Nicole were worried about them, thinking they would be in danger.
But Old Ru actually stopped them, saying, "You three. I know that you are worried about them, but how about staying here? I'm sure that you've learned a lot over the past few months. You should take some time to sort your thoughts and try your theory, right?"
"But…" Dimitri was the first one to express his worry.
"Don't worry. I will go with them." Old Ru waved his hand lightly, reassuring them.
They knew that Old Ru was extremely strong. They might not even be able to do anything to him even with the True Spirit Body.
So, after some consideration, Dimitri bowed to him and said, "Please take care of him… them."
"Mhm." Old Ru nodded.
"Are we going to the valley where we enter here? But we've cleared the area previously. The demons shouldn't have filled the valley, right?" Noel asked.
"Of course. We are going to a different area. At the back of this place, there is a demon nest. The nest is filled with at least a thousand demons with the leader being a Superior Demon. Your task is to clear the demon nest." Old Ru smiled.
As soon as Dimitri heard those words, he immediately retracted his words and shouted, "That's extremely dangerous. They are still Spirit Masters. Do you think they can fight against a Superior Demon?"
"You are underestimating these two kids. If they fight at the very limit, killing a Superior Demon should be possible." Old Ru shook his head helplessly. "Besides, even if they can't, I can always kill the Superior Demon… Though, I bet that their competitiveness will stop me from doing so."
"…" Anna and Noel fell silent. On one hand, they didn't mind fighting against a Superior Demon. On the other hand, they knew that only a Captain could put up a fight against them. Even a Spirit Grandmaster like Paul would have a hard time stopping them, let alone defeating them.
However, they knew that Paul became a Spirit Grandmaster not long ago. His strength couldn't be compared to a full-fledged Spirit Grandmaster.
When they thought about it, they couldn't help but think it was possible to defeat Paul as long as they worked together. They managed to defeat a Spirit Master when they were only a Spirit Wielder after all. So, they might be able to do the same with a Spirit Grandmaster now that they have become a Spirit Master.
In addition, Anna had the so-called True Spirit Body. If everything looked dangerous, there was no doubt that she would use this trump card.
Though, the problem was that once she used it, she would have a hard time training because the connection with her spirit would be extremely thin for a week.
In other words, Noel and Anna had to make a decision. The reward was extremely great, but the risk was also high. They couldn't proceed with a half-baked decision.
Noel and Anna exchanged looks for a minute before nodding their heads.
"We will go." Noel stopped Dimitri with a determined look.
"But Master…"
"Dimitri!" Noel raised his voice, making his intention clear. "Once we return, we are going to face enemies far stronger and more wicked than a Superior Demon. There will be a lot of Spirit Grandmasters, if not Spirit Transcendences."
"If Anna and I can't even defeat a Superior Demon, do you think we will be able to face them? It's true that we can rely on you for some time, but have you forgotten about the previous ambush?"
"The enemies have outsmarted us and even sent forth a Spirit Transcendence to kill us. If not for you using the True Spirit Body, the loss would be unimaginable."
"If worrying about my safety is your priority, then you should know that while this training might possess a lot of risks, there is still Old Ru acting as a safety net. Meanwhile, if we return with me still weak, there won't be anyone stopping the enemies from killing me again. No, dying in their hands might be salvation…"
Noel clenched his fists. He knew that with how much Laufey was obsessed with them, he would definitely be subjected to a lot of humiliations where dying would be better.
Now that they had learned this new ability, he wanted to see how far he could go against a Superior Demon. As long as he could do it, he would have the confidence to go against someone like a Devil Bishop. That was why he had to go.
"If you are truly my butler, then… rather than over-protecting me, you should believe in me and wish for a safe journey."
"!!!" Dimitri's body shook. He couldn't help but remember the time when Noel was still a baby. At that time, Noel looked extremely fragile. A single pinch from him might even kill him.
Even though Luke knew he wanted to kill Noel not long ago, Luke actually asked him to carry him.
Dimitri didn't know at that time, it was the turning point in his life. When he held him as gently as possible, Noel was actually smiling.
Even though he was held by bloodied-hands of his, the smile melted everything. Noel even held his thumb as if telling him it was fine.
As an assassin, he had taken a lot of lives under the commander's command. Most of the time, the target of assassination would have someone they held dear.
Every time he took their lives, those behind them would cry. That was why these bloodied hands of his couldn't hold something precious. The only thing they did was take away people's happiness.
And it was at this moment he thought that his hands might be able to bring something new. Instead of doing it to take people's lives and make others sad, he might be able to protect this precious smile. Luke, his father, had done a lot of good deeds that brought smiles to people's faces, so this little baby might also bring a lot of smiles to people.
In his heart, he wanted to protect this smile, he wanted to protect this little life… all so that when he grew up, he would bring joy to others. When that happened, he would know that he had done a good deed.
Now that Noel stood in front of him with that determined look as if telling him that he didn't need his protection anymore, he felt that this might be the time to stop.
Noel had grown up.
Yet, as if Noel understood his feeling, Noel came to him and said, "You have been protecting me a lot this whole time. I'm eternally grateful for it. However, if I keep relying on you to protect me, there will be a time when we won't be together. If I can't even protect myself, then what should I do?"
"Of course, I'm just asking you to trust me this time. There are still a lot of things you have to teach me. So… please trust me this time." Noel knew that the last time they got ambushed by Laufey had traumatized Dimitri a bit, he knew that Dimitri wouldn't always be with him. There was a time when he had to stand up, telling him that it was fine.
Dimitri shut his eyes and clenched his fists. There were a lot of things to say, but the only thing that came out of his mouth was, "I apologize, Master. I was rude."
There was a thin line between protecting someone and not trusting them. He slightly leaned to the latter, thinking Noel wouldn't be able to do anything without him. That was why he apologized for his rudeness.
Noel smiled. "Don't worry. I will be back soon."
"Yes. May the fortune bless you with its presence." Dimitri nodded.
Looking at their interaction, Anna couldn't help but look at Nicole while pointing at herself, asking whether she had anything to say to her. Unfortunately, Nicole could only shake her head and shoulder, not knowing what to say.
"Let's go then!" Old Ru decided to break the silence, or the situation would become awkward.
