The Hero System - Chapter 40

However, Jonah noticed that this young man didn’t even notice him. He was glaring in another direction. Jonah followed his gaze to end up seeing another familiar person The rude shop clerk from earlier.

“Why are you here?” Isaac’s protector coldly asked.

“What does that have to do with you?” The young man raised a brow.

“It has everything to do with me. I told you before, never step foot into this shop!” Isaac’s protector didn’t hide his hostility.

“Oh? And who are you to decide that?”

While the two were bickering, the young woman also came out. Jonah found himself awkwardly standing there but he couldn’t leave since the gap left by the two was too small to go through. Furthermore, he didn’t want to grab Isaac’s protector attention.

Now that Jonah had a good look at him, he found some similarities between Isaac and him. It was highly possible that the two were family. He also had a black hair and amber eyes but his face was much more mature with more distinct features. Unlike the rude young man, who had a brown hair with brown eyes, this young man was much neater and good looking. Even though both of them were handsome, one of them didn’t take care of his appearance unlike the other.

“Edward? What’s going on?” The young woman furrowed her brows and looked at the brown haired young man.

“Miss Rose, I just came here to resupply myself with some Talisman’s materials. However, this guy blocked my way.” The brown haired young man, Edward, politely nodded as a greeting. It seems the two knew each other.

“How many times is this? Even though our families arranged our marriage, that’s just them! I didn’t approve of anything!” Rose was clearly agitated as she told the black haired young man.

“Nonetheless, you’re my fianc. How can I allow any unworthy guy hang around you?” The young man coldly answered.

“You have no right to decide that!”

“Do you want to involve our families?”

Rose went silent when she heard that. After a few moments, she turned around toward Edward with an apologetic face.

“What makes you say that I’m unworthy?” Edward coldly glared at the young man.

“Hehe! Do you need me to remind you? A Talisman’s master who hasn’t reached the Soul Possession stage, how can you be worthy?” The young man laughed heartedly.

“Your nut-sized brain can’t understand that Talisman’s making has nothing with cultivation?” Edward smirked and looked at the young man like he was the stupidest person in the world.

Even though what he said was half-true, since certain Talisman’s required a certain amount of spiritual energy, he wasn’t wrong either. After all, one can use external sources to supply the Talisman with spiritual energy. Thus what really determined a Talisman’s master was his skill and knowledge.

“Even if we compare our knowledge and skill, you’d be inferior!”

“How did you know without trying?” Edward’s confidence rendered the young man speechless. After all, they can’t really compare who’s better at the moment. One might be good at attack-type talismans while the other specialized in illusions.

“Then, our disciples! We’ll have them compete in the next Talisman’s tournament!” The young man finally found a way to further humiliate Edward and propose a fair method. After all, he knew that no one would take a cripple as their master.

“Jacob!” Rose flared up as she knew Edward had no disciples.

“Very well!” Unexpectedly, Edward nodded. The other two clearly didn’t expect this so they were surprised.

“You have a disciple? Don’t think about hiring someone!” Jacob asked with doubt.

“What, you can’t see him? He’s right here!” Everyone on the scene was surprised, including Jonah.

At that moment, all eyes turned toward Jonah. Everyone had their doubts as Jonah was just someone passing by.

Even Jonah doubted his memory as he didn’t remember taking someone as a master. Especially not this rude guy who chased him out!

“Are you kidding me? This guy is obviously not your disciple!” Jacob mocked after he glanced at the books’ titles in Jonah’s possession.

“Didn’t I say I was here to resupply? I just took him as a disciple this morning!”

Jonah was almost cursing now. ‘You didn’t take me as a disciple, you didn’t even treat me as a customer you shameless bastard!’

“Okay. Three months from now! However, a bet is a must for this, right?” Jacob has already seen through Edward’s shameless act and tried to push the matter as far as he could.

“Bet?” Edward seemed surprised.

“Yes, if my disciple has a better ranking, you won’t get near Rose, ever again!”

Edward frowned. It seems his early plan of letting Rose know this bastard for his true colors has gone south. However, he can’t back down now. Otherwise, he’d just be humiliated for nothing.

He didn’t try to hide his affection toward Rose. After all, it was obvious to the onlookers. Well, except for Rose herself as she saw him as a friend.

He had always wanted to ruin the forced marriage imposed by Rose and Jacob’s families but he had no one to back him back. He had nothing, except his skill.

Since young, Talisman’s were his passion. They were his only passion until he met Rose, another student of his Talisman’s academy. Being herself, and a talisman master, she won his heart.

However, reality was crueler than his colorful dreams. As soon as they graduated, he wanted to propose to her. However, her family and Jacob’s had forcedly put them together.

In the end, he can only chase his unrequired love here, away from his home and his dreams. He placed his whole fortune to open this shop hoping for his spring to blossom as he tries to change his destiny.

Pondering this proposal, Edward couldn’t help but glance at Jonah. Even though the youth had plain looking clothes and was obviously a commoner since he self-studies, he can only place his dreams on this youth’s.

“Okay, but if I win, you’ll break off your engagement with Miss Rose!” Edward glared at Jacob.

“Hah! Very well, Rose, be our witness.”

“Be your witness? Don’t joke! I don’t approve of this!” Rose was speechless as the two decide their bet without her contest.

She then turned around to advise Edward otherwise, but was met with a firmed gaze. Underneath his gaze was gentleness that she always felt and regarded to belong to only a friend looking after her. However, this encounter made her heart in a mess. Why would Edward go to such lengths?

Confused, she went silent. The other two regarded this as approval and glared at each other before turning to leave.

“Since when did I become your disciple?” Jonah questioned Edward after the two returned to his shop. He didn’t object earlier because he too has realized Edward feelings and didn’t want to obstruct him. However, that didn’t mean he would become his disciple.

Some tech issues here, enjoy this even though it’s unpolished.