Ch- 12: Shocked Crowd

A young man with a divinely handsome face, exuding an irresistible charm that could captivate any woman with just a single glance, emerged from the depths of the forest. His short black hair, luscious and silky, perfectly framed his flawless features, accentuating his magnetic appeal. As he stepped into view, his physique commanded attention—a body sculpted with dense, well-defined muscles that hinted at his strength and vitality.

The onlookers stood frozen, their eyes widening in awe and disbelief. Never before had they encountered such a breathtakingly attractive individual, and a wave of astonishment washed over them. Whispers rippled through the crowd, some even finding themselves questioning their own preferences as their minds grappled with the man's irresistible allure

"Who might you be, young man?" inquired Senior Knight Louis with a hint of curiosity in his voice.

A soft smile graced Adam's face as he responded, "Sir Louis, have you forgotten about me in these past three months? It is I, Adam." His tone conveyed a warm familiarity, reflecting the positive impression he held of the esteemed knight.

As Adam calmly revealed his identity, a stunned silence fell upon everyone present. They stood frozen in disbelief, their minds struggling to grasp the reality of the situation. It was as if they had gone into a daze, questioning whether they were experiencing a vivid hallucination or had misheard Adam's words

"Young Master, is it truly you?" Alex shouted with excitement, finally noticing a vague resemblance between the figure before him and the previous Adam.

Adam, grinning and filled with memories of rescuing Alex from slavery, replied, "Who else could it be, Alex?" His smile conveyed warmth and familiarity.

Liam, unable to grasp the reality of the situation, exclaimed, "This... this is impossible!"

Adam's smile remained, but a hint of coldness tinged his voice as he retorted, "Why so surprised, Liam? Were you expecting me to never return?" His words carried a subtle edge, though it went unnoticed by the others.

Coughing awkwardly, Liam attempted to change the subject, saying, "Cough, no, I'm just surprised by the extent of your physical transformation." Despite his attempt to divert the topic, an ugly expression remained on Liam's face, while his loyal knight Ben nervously wiped away beads of sweat, aware that their master was displeased.

"I, too, am curious about your remarkable transformation. Judging by your physique, it seems you possess the potential to unleash extraordinary swordsmanship or even surpass it," Louis remarked, his gaze fixed on Adam's changed body, recognizing its suitability for combat.

Adam responded without changing his expression and maintaining his composure, "Well, Sir Louis, I cannot provide an exact explanation. It all began with my regular training in the forest. Over time, I noticed a gradual change taking place within me. After three months of intense training and surviving encounters with various beasts, this is the result." Adam chose to fabricate a story, unsure of how to explain his current situation to them, especially considering the impending apocalypse had yet to occur

"Well, whatever the case, I'm genuinely happy to see your remarkable progress. With such a physique, I have no doubt that you'll become one of the strongest knights in the future," Louis expressed with a smile, giving Adam a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"Thank you, sir," Adam replied, returning the smile gratefully.

"Alright, I understand that all of you must be missing your families after spending three months away from civilization. You are now free to leave and return to your homes," Louis announced in a wise and reassuring tone, prompting cheers and excitement from the crowd as they began to disperse.

"Alex, prepare a horse. We shall depart," Adam instructed his loyal knight, Alex.

"As you wish, my Lord," Alex bowed respectfully and hurried off to make the necessary preparations.

"Liam, are you coming with me?" Adam turned towards Liam, who clenched his teeth in anger, but quickly composed himself upon hearing Adam's voice.

"No, cousin. I still need to visit my fiancée," Liam replied, his voice slightly trembling when he mentioned his betrothed.

"Oh, I see. Take care then," Adam responded, feeling a pang of curiosity about Liam's fiancée but ultimately shrugging it off as he left the scene

After Adam disappeared from his sight, Liam's expression twisted into anger, and he unleashed his frustration upon his knight, Ben, and the rest of his subordinates.

"How the fuck did he come out alive? Did those useless bandits that you hired even show up?" Liam shouted furiously at Ben, who trembled in fear.

"L-Lord Liam, I personally witnessed them entering the forest where the test was taking place," Ben replied, his words stuttering out nervously.

"Then how the fuck is he still alive?" Liam roared at the top of his voice, his anger reaching its peak.

"I-I don't know, my Lord. They are notorious bandits, known for their merciless killings and robberies. Even veteran knights have fallen victim to their clutches," Ben replied, his voice filled with anxiety as veins bulged on Liam's forehead.

"Then how the hell did he escape? Did they even find Adam, or did they just take the money and abandon their assignment?" Liam questioned, recalling the hefty sum he had paid to hire them even before the task was completed.

"If they think they can just take the money and neglect their duty, they should be prepared to meet their graves," Liam seethed with fury, his anger burning uncontrollably.

"That cannot be the case. They completed their tasks and never abandoned an assignment. The only plausible explanation is..." Ben's face paled as he hesitated to voice his theory.

"What is it? Spit it out!" Liam shouted, noticing Ben's reluctance.

"My Lord, the only conclusion I can draw is that Adam may have slaughtered all the knights sent after him. Remember, his body has undergone a complete transformation," Ben revealed his theory, causing a momentary silence to fall over Liam before he burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Impossible, Ben! Don't speak such nonsense. Even if he has become stronger, he cannot defeat so many bandits alone. Even seasoned knights would struggle to accomplish such a feat," Liam laughed heartily, dismissing the idea. However, his laughter faded abruptly as a realization struck him.

"Shit! How do I explain this situation to her?" Liam shuddered at the thought of having to confront his fiancée with the truth.