Conquering The Novel

When he heard Ziona's remark, Lucas was rendered speechless.

"... I don't believe Ares is much stronger than I am," Lucas said after a brief pause.

"…."

"Are you serious right now?" Diana inquired, giving Lucas a skeptical look.

!?

"What is that supposed to mean? We can't tell who is stronger unless we compete, right? ...I don't understand why you guys assumed he was stronger than me or anyone else here who has yet to face him," Lucas said indignantly.

"…."

"Speak for yourself, dude, as I know he's stronger than me," Kevin said abruptly.

"... Though I hate to admit it, but I too believe that he is stronger than anyone here," Claude stated, as everyone nodded in agreement, even including the narcissistic Diana.

!?

"...Seriously?" Lucas said with a baffled expression, and he was about to retort but Ayla interrupted him.

"... Wait, weren't we talking about Hercules? Let's not get off track here, shall we?" Ayla immediately said when she noticed Lucas's expression.

"Yes, why don't you tell us more about your fiancée Ayla? I'm curious about him as well.

Because I've heard he has a huge physique for a teenager, I wonder if his height is double that of yours," I inquired with a smile on my face and my gaze fixed on Ayla.

!?

Ayla just remained silent when she heard me and gave me a blank stare.

"W-Whao really?... His height is twice that of Ayla?" Ziona exclaimed with a bitter smile.

"... I don't think that's a good match," Kevin said with an unpleasant expression, while visualizing something.

"…."

And as soon as she heard Kevin's comment and saw his expression, Ayla's calm, innocent demeanor began to fade, and I could see how her face distorted as if she could tell what Kevin was thinking.

"... O-Oh, if he's as strong as you guys claim, then why didn't he enroll in our Academy? Or did he not receive an invitation to our academy for some reason?" Kevin spoke quickly after emerging from his reverie as he felt Ayla's gaze.

"No, he was invited to enroll in our academy as well, but he chose to decline and go to the academy where his master is an instructor instead," Lucas explained.

"... Ah, I see. Because he would have had no other reason not to enroll in our academy; as many people aspire to be accepted here, but not everyone gets the chance because they lack the necessary qualifications," Kevin remarked.

"...Hold on, I'll look him up on the internet. If he's well-known enough to be known by the Hero Association's president, there should be some information about him on the internet, right?" Diana stated as she began searching the internet for information about Hercules.

[HERCULES: Hercules is renowned for having a massive physique, but his greatest attribute is strength.

He was given the title 'The Superhuman' after his domineering performance in the academy's entrance examination.]

[Family Background: Unknown]

"What the heck—Is that it? Nothing else is mentioned besides this, not even a photo of him," Diana uttered as she scrolled down the screen, searching for more information about him, but could find nothing more than this.

"...One of his videos on YTube is fairly popular," Lucas stated abruptly.

!?

After hearing Lucas, Diana went on YTube to look up his name and quickly discovered the video at the top of the page with a few million views.

"Is this it?" Diana enquired while playing the video.

"... Yeah, that's the one," Lucas said in a low voice.

Diana then began to show the video on a holographic screen...

***

"... What the fuck did I just watch?" Kevin exclaimed at the conclusion of the video.

"…."

And there was a brief silence after the video ended, as we were shocked by what we saw.

Furthermore, It was my first time watching that video as well.

The video showed Hercules killing the B-Rank monsters with his bare hands, tearing them apart in two pieces using his strength alone, and his screams during the process were absolutely terrifying.

"...So, this barbarian is Ayla's fiancee?" Diana remarked, holding back her laughter.

!?

"Hey Diana, don't call him a barbarian and insult him.

As he will be Ayla's husband at some point, though his methods of using his strength are savage, but I believe he is worthy of being ranked first on the ranking list," I said with a straight face.

"... Y-Yeah, he seems strong; I'd like to fight him as well," Ziona added.

"…."

"Alright, I apologize for calling your future husband a barbarian, Ayla," Diana said with a grin on her face.

"... All I can say is that I hope you have a peaceful first night with him—" Kevin commented, but his words were cut short when Lucas grabbed him by the collar.

!?

"If you utter one more word, ...I'll kill you," Lucas threatened.

"Relax, dude, someone has to say it, and I know you're aware of it as well, aren't you? Look at Ayla's petite stature and that colossal creature named Hercules—" Kevin stated, but then was suddenly punched in the face.

Punch!—

"Didn't I say you to shut up, you bastard," Lucas yelled and as he punched Kevin again.

Punch!—

"Stop it, you two!" Ayla shouted.

"Brother! "Let go of him," Ayla said authoritatively.

Tsk!—

When Lucas heard Ayla, he clicked his tongue before letting go of Kevin's collar.

"...If you'll excuse me," Ayla said as she walked out of the room before intently staring at me.

And Lucas, who had been staring at Kevin for a while, quickly followed Ayla.

'Why was she staring at me like that before she left? I don't think any of this is my fault,' I thought inwardly as I watched Ayla and Kevin leave the room.

"...It's pretty entertaining to watch humans fight," Irethiel made a telepathic remark.

"…."

"... You stupid bastard, there are some facts we aren't supposed to say out loud," Claude said and smacked Kevin on the back of the head.

Smack!—

"You jerk!" Kevin exclaimed as he pushed Claude.

"So, tell me, how does it feel to be thrashed for opening that gutter of a mouth of yours?" Claude asked laughing.

"Stop it guys, it's no longer funny," Ziona stated while shaking her head displeased, before walking out of the room.

"Y-Yeah, it's not funny, so shut up you two," Diana said trying to hold back her grin.

"…."

"You should look at your own face before you say anything to us," Claude remarked as he noticed Diana struggling to keep her grin from breaking out.

!?

"...H-Huh! W-What's wrong with my face?" Diana asked quickly, pulling out her phone and opening a camera to examine her face.

"Hmmm? I don't think there's anything wrong with my face, though?" Diana said as she stared at herself in the camera.

"…."

We were speechless after witnessing her ridiculous behavior.

"…Can't you see a dumb bitch displaying in the camera?" Livia inquired sarcastically.

"... No, I don't see anyone else in the camera except me," Diana replied confused.

!?

"... She's a lost cause," Claude said as he walked out of the room, followed by Kevin, who shrugged his shoulders and followed behind him.

"Wait! Were you calling me a dumb bitch?" Diana exclaimed as she came to a sudden realization.

"…."

"... Ares, let's go as well, I'm hungry," Livia stated, ignoring Diana.

"Didn't she just finish up a sandwich? How much more food can she fit in her small stomach?" Irethiel wondered out loud.

"... Okay, let's go," I said as I rose from the sofa.

But just as I was about to leave with Livia, I was stopped by Diana.

"Wait a minute, Ares! I have something to discuss with you," Diana conveyed.

!?

Livia furrowed her brow and stared at Diana as she heard her.

"What do you want to discuss with him?" Livia questioned.

"... It's confidential," Diana said, smiling as she looked at Livia before turning her gaze to me.

"I think I know what you wanted to talk about," I said, returning my gaze to Diana.

"… You do?" Diana inquired, intrigued.

"It doesn't matter, you can speak in front of Livia," I said, smiling.

"... Okay," Diana said as she sat on the sofa, pouring herself a cup of tea.

"Would you like some?" Diana kindly offered us tea.

"... No, we're fine. Don't waste time, just get to the point because I'm hungry," Livia stated in an irritated tone.

"…."

"Sure," Diana said, pausing for a moment before continuing.

"... I heard about your meeting with Erina, and it appears to have gone well," Diana said as she sipped her tea.

"I suppose you could say everything went well... So you heard about it from her faction's elves, huh?" I asked, grinning.

Diana giggled and said, "Yeah, they keep me informed about this kind of information.

"...So you've already met with Erina?" Livia asked, her brow furrowed.

"Yes, he appears to have already attended the meeting along with Ziona, when Erina invited him, and I heard he also came to an agreement with Erina," Diana explained.

"…."

Hearing her, Livia remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"Hmm, Is that so," Livia muttered in a hushed tone.

"... Alright, Diana, get to the point," I said.

"It's nothing much actually; I just wanted to mention that there are elves in Zerix's faction as well," Diana remarked with a broad smile.

***