The Rise Of Third Rate Villain-Chapter 22 - A Duel Between Maid And Knight

The training ground was eerily silent. There was only me and Leon, frozen in the awkward limbo of two guys awkwardly waiting for a date to show (or not show).

...Okay, that was a weird analogy, but whatever.

I shifted my stance, stretching my arms a bit. "She's late."

"She's still a maid, young master, Leon said, his arms crossed, his usual unreadable expression in place. "Her duties come first."

I clicked my tongue. "Yeah, yeah. But I hate waiting."

Suddenly, the doors of the training hall squeaked open, and Mabel walked in.

And let me tell you, I wasn't prepared.

She was in a tight black ensemble—an assassin type combat suit that was a little too close-fitting. Her movements were smooth and controlled, but the way the outfit highlighted her figure? Oh boy.

My brain short-circuited for a second.

Oh. Damn. That's...

Nope. No distractions. Control yourself, Valerian.

Mabel walked up to me, her face slightly flushed. She lowered her head by a few inches and eyes peeped up from beneath her lashes. "I apologize for making you wait, Master."

I waved it off, trying to act normal. "It's fine."

She straightened, and my eyes involuntarily flickered to how well her outfit fit her.

Oh, f—okay, focus. FOCUS.

I cleared my throat. "Alright, now that you're here, let's not waste time. Leon?"

Leon nodded. "Understood, young master."

Mabel and Leon moved to opposite ends of the training ground. The air grew tense, charged with anticipation.

Leon just stood there, calm, his hand on his sword hilt as if he was about to take a walk, not a fight club. Meanwhile, Mabel's posture was sharp, her stance low—like a predator about to strike.

Leon's voice broke the silence. "Before we begin, I'll state the rules. I won't go all out. You'll get the first attack. For the first few exchanges, I'll only defend. As long as you get even one stitch on my clothes, you win."

Simple, right?

Except it wasn't.

That is, if Leon had to list enough benefits, it would indicate of a completely other level.

I crossed my arms, watching Mabel's expression carefully. She clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening on her sword hilt. She knew what this meant too.

He's not taking me seriously, her eyes seemed to say. Or the gap between us is just that huge.

Leon's voice was calm. "Whenever you're ready."

Mabel's stance shifted.

I took a deep breath and called out—

"Start!"

---

Mabel exploded forward.

As soon as I blinked, she had already closed half of the distance. Her sword flashed in the sun as she contorted her body mid-shift, and swung her blade horizontally towards Leon's flank.

A clean, decisive strike.

But Leon?

He simply took a step back.

Just one.

Mabel's blade just grazed him, piercing the emptiness where his body had been a moment ago.

Mabel's mind raced. Fast. His movements are so smooth—it's like he knew exactly where I'd strike.

She didn't hesitate. With a turn of her body she stopped her stance and reversed her traction and swung upward, aiming for the upper torso.

Again—

Leon didn't block. He didn't parry. He just moved.

Like a ghost.

A sidestep, the smallest shift of weight, and Mabel's attack missed again.

Mabel's heart pounded. He's not even trying. He's just evading effortlessly.

She clenched her teeth and lunged forward again, this time feinting to the left then delivering a right hook. A perfect misdirection—

Except Leon's sword finally moved.

CLANG!

The clash of steel echoed through the hall.

Her strike had been blocked by a mere sweep of his wrist.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

Mabel staggered back, eyes wide. Impossible. He barely moved his sword, but the force—

Leon's golden eyes studied her calmly. "Your attacks aren't bad."

She clenched her jaw. "Then why aren't they landing?"

Leon smirked slightly. "Because you're hesitating."

Mabel's hands tightened around her sword.

Hesitating? Me?

Leon's voice remained steady. "You attack well, but you hold back at the last second. A real assassin would've gone for the kill."

Mabel's eyes narrowed.

Then—she exhaled slowly.

No more hesitation.

She dashed forward again, this time lower to the ground, aiming for his legs. But if she couldn't get a direct hit, she would bully him into defending himself in a manner that would destabilize his stance.

Her blade arced upward—

Leon raised his sword, effortlessly blocking her strike again. But this time, Mabel was already moving. She spun, using the force of the impact to send her backward, then propelled her at an even greater force—.

And then—

SHING!

Both fighters froze.

Their backs were to each other.

Mabel's sword... was in pieces. The blade had snapped near the hilt.

She took a sharp intake of breath, looking at the broken pieces in her grasp. I lost...?

Then—

"I surrender."

Her head snapped up.

Leon shifted and raised his tunic slightly to expose a small gash on his side.

A single, shallow cut.

Mabel's lips parted in shock. "I... won?"

Valerian exhaled loudly. "Thank God."

Mabel was still frozen, her mind catching up. She had barely managed a cut—just a scratch. But the rules were clear. Even a single tear in his clothes meant victory.

Leon gave her an approving nod. "You're strong. With proper training, you could easily surpass Darius."

Mabel's heart pounded in her chest. Not just from exhaustion, but from sheer joy. She turned sharply and ran toward me.

"Master! I won! This means I can stay, right?"

I chuckled. "Of course. But don't forget your duties."

Mabel beamed, bowing quickly. "Obviously, Master!"

Leon sighed. "I'll go report the results to My Lord ."

I glanced at him. "Wait. Can you also tell my father that I'd like to meet him later?

Leon nodded. "Understood."

With that, he left.

I turned back to Mabel. "From tomorrow onward, after your maid duties, you'll train with me under Leon.

Mabel blinked. "Master... is it really allowed for a slave to train under someone like Sir Leon?

I smirked. Just say it was my instruction, if somebody complains. No one will dare question it."

Mabel hesitated for a moment before bowing. "Thank you, Master."

She left to finish her remaining duties, leaving me alone in the training hall.

I exhaled.

Now... onto the next step.

In order to grow really, truly stronger, I needed to get some real combat experience.

And for that—

I needed to convince my father to let me join the Adventurer's Guild.

The dungeons of the northern forest...

That's where the [Manaspring] was. The key to unlocking my Aura Points.

Looks like I've got some convincing to do.

—